GLOBE Projects

GLOBE Side Navigation

Changes in Land Cover Impact Temperature and Active Layer in Subarctic Regions

Student(s):Stevi R. Schmierer
Grade Level:Undergraduate
GLOBE Educator(s):Christina Buffington
Contributors:
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Precipitation, Surface Temperature, Soil Moisture - Gravimetric, Soil Temperature
Presentation Poster: View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:12/13/2021
Permafrost site at University of Alaska Fairbanks with 50 meter tape shown. Photo by S. Schmierer
This research project looks at the relationship between land cover, permafrost and soil in the subarctic region of Fairbanks, Alaska. Permafrost acts as barrier holding water near the surface, creating poorly drained marshes with thick moss layers that act as insulation. In 1908 a section of black spruce forest -near the UAF campus -was clear cut for agriculture purposes transforming the land cover from black spruce to birch trees, ultimately increasing permafrost thaw. The thawing of permafrost in this area created huge mounds in the forest known as the “bicycle bumps.” How does the loss of permafrost affect soil moisture and soil temperature? Transect soil moisture samples were taken on October 31, 2021 at the permafrost location and November 1, 2021 at the thermokarst location. Snow depth, snow surface temperature, and soil temperatures 5cm and 10cm were also taken at both locations. The results showed a connection between land cover and snow depth, further gravimetric soil samples are needed for measurable soil moisture data. Going forward, addition gravimetric soil samples should be taken during summer months, with no snow cover. Additional tests on leaf litter and snow pack comparison for thermokarst and permafrost sites would be useful.



Comments

I am impressed with the amount of work involved in sample collection under challenging conditions. There appears to be an error in one column where the values for maximum and average are reversed. The presentation of the data is good. Note that data is a plural noun; only professional researchers tend to remember this. Nice work. I appreciated your statement about gaining confidence in doing research.