Distribution, evidence for internal ice, and possible hydrologic significance of rock glaciers in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Munroe
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Lake Water ◽  
Water Discharge ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Significant Component ◽  
Uinta Mountains ◽  
Winter Ground ◽  
Ground Temperatures ◽  
Rock Glaciers

AbstractMapping at a scale of 1:5000 identified 395 rock glaciers in the Uinta Mountains, Utah. The majority of these have areas<20 ha, although the largest covers 97 ha. Rock glaciers have a mean elevation of 3285 m above sea level (range of 2820 to 3744 m above sea level) and exhibit a preference for northerly aspects. Sixty (15%) have a tongue-shaped morphology, whereas 335 (85%) are lobate features protruding from talus along valley walls. Tongue-shaped rock glaciers are found at significantly higher elevations and receive considerably less direct solar radiation each year than lobate rock glaciers. Winter ground temperatures atop representative rock glaciers drop to between −3°C and −5°C. This result, combined with ~0°C water discharging in the summer and water ages >1 year, suggests that at least some of these landforms contain buried ice. Late summer water discharge from two rock glaciers exhibits higher pH and significantly elevated concentrations of some ions compared with lake water, consistent with ablation of internal ice after melting of winter snowpack is complete. Although the amount of water discharging from individual rock glaciers may be small, the aggregate discharge from all rock glaciers and talus could constitute a significant component of streamflow in late summer and fall.

scholarly journals InSAR-based characterization of rock glacier movement in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Brencher ◽  
Alexander L. Handwerger ◽  
Jeffrey S. Munroe
Keyword(s):  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Uinta Mountains ◽  
Mountain Environments ◽  
Prominent Component ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
Rock Glaciers ◽  
Climatic Drivers

Abstract. Rock glaciers are a prominent component of many alpine landscapes and constitute a significant water resource in some arid mountain environments. Here, we employ satellite-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) to identify and monitor active rock glaciers in the Uinta Mountains (Utah, USA), an area of ~10,000 km2. We used mean velocity maps to generate an inventory for the Uinta Mountains containing 255 active rock glaciers. Active rock glaciers are 10.8 ha in area on average, and located at a mean elevation of 3290 m, where mean annual air temperature is 0.12 °C. The mean line-of-sight (LOS) velocity for the inventory is 2.52 cm/yr, but individual rock glaciers have LOS velocities ranging from 0.88 to 5.26 cm/yr. To search for relationships with climatic drivers, we investigate the time-dependent motion of three rock glaciers over the summers of 2016–2019. Time series analysis suggests that rock glacier motion has a significant seasonal component, with motion that is more than 5 times faster during the late summer compared to rest of the year. Rock glacier velocities also appear to be correlated with the snow-water equivalent of the previous winter's snowpack. These results demonstrate the ability to use satellite InSAR to monitor rock glaciers over large areas and provide insight into the environmental factors that control their kinematics.

scholarly journals InSAR-based characterization of rock glacier movement in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 4823-4844
Author(s):  
George Brencher ◽  
Alexander L. Handwerger ◽  
Jeffrey S. Munroe
Keyword(s):  
Snow Water Equivalent ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Uinta Mountains ◽  
Mountain Environments ◽  
Prominent Component ◽  
Snow Water ◽  
Rock Glaciers ◽  
Climatic Drivers

Abstract. Rock glaciers are a prominent component of many alpine landscapes and constitute a significant water resource in some arid mountain environments. Here, we employ satellite-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) between 2016 and 2019 to identify and monitor active and transitional rock glaciers in the Uinta Mountains (Utah, USA), an area of ∼3000 km2. We used mean velocity maps to generate an inventory for the Uinta Mountains containing 205 active and transitional rock glaciers. These rock glaciers are 11.9 ha in area on average and located at a mean elevation of 3308 m, where mean annual air temperature is −0.25 ∘C. The mean downslope velocity for the inventory is 1.94 cm yr−1, but individual rock glaciers have velocities ranging from 0.35 to 6.04 cm yr−1. To search for relationships with climatic drivers, we investigated the time-dependent motion of three rock glaciers. We found that rock glacier motion has a significant seasonal component, with rates that are more than 5 times faster during the late summer compared to the rest of the year. Rock glacier velocities also appear to be correlated with the snow water equivalent of the previous winter's snowpack. Our results demonstrate the ability to use satellite InSAR to monitor rock glaciers over large areas and provide insight into the environmental factors that control their kinematics.

scholarly journals Permafrost as a climatic indicator in northern Victoria Land, Antarctica

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 131-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Guglielmin ◽  
F. Dramis
Keyword(s):  
Ground Ice ◽  
Patterned Ground ◽  
Thermal Inversion ◽  
Ground Temperatures ◽  
The North ◽  
Victoria Land ◽  
Investigation Methods ◽  
Isotopic Analyses ◽  
History Of ◽  
Rock Glaciers

AbstractKnowledge of permafrost characteristics and distribution in Antarctica and their relationships with present and past climates is still poor. This paper reports investigations on permafrost in an area located between Nansen Ice Sheet to the south and Mount Melbourne (2732 m a.s.l.) to the north. Investigation methods included geomorphological surveys and geoelectrical soundings as well as crystallography, chemical and isotopic analyses of the ground ice. Geomorphological surveys helped to explain the relationships between periglacial landforms (e.g. rock glaciers and patterned ground) and the glacial history of the area. Geoelectrical soundings allowed us to define different ground-ice units in the ice-free areas. Each unit was characterised by a different type of permafrost (dry or ice-poor permafrost, marine or continental massive buried ice and sub-sea permafrost). To identify the nature of ground ice, trenches were dug and some shallow boreholes were drilled to a maximum depth of-3.6 m in massive buried ice. Samples of both ice-poor permafrost and massive ice were collected and analyzed. Chemical, isotopic δ18O and crystal analyses were also carried out. The relationships between climate and thermal regimes of the active layer and the upper part of permafrost were determined using a monitoring station for ground temperatures at Boulder Clay Glacier, near the Italian Antarctic station. During winter, there were several significant thermal-inversion events in the ground, which cannot be explained only by air-temperature changes, suggesting a possible influence of winter snowfall, even if these events are usually considered very rare.

scholarly journals ACCUMULATION BEHAVIOUR OF ALLANTOIN IN THE UNDERGROUND PHYTOMASS OF THE BORAGINACEAE FAMILY AND ITS ROLE IN ADAPTING THE PLANTS TO ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-136
Author(s):  
A. Ya. Tamakhina ◽  
A. A. Akhkubekova ◽  
A. B. Ittiev
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Low Temperatures ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Stress Factors ◽  
Adaptation To Stress ◽  
Plant Adaptation ◽  
The Family

Aim.The aim of the work described herein was to study the dynamics of allantoin accumulation in the underground phytomass ofEchium vulgareL.,Symphytum caucasicumM. Bieb. andS. asperumLepech. as well as to clarify the role of allantoin in plant adaptation to stress factors.Methods.We studied the roots of plants growing in the foothill (Nalchik, 490–512 m above sea level) and the mountain zones of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (Terskol village, 2530 m above sea level; Verkhnyaya Balkaria village, 2680 m above sea level). The roots were collected at the stages of rosetting, flowering, fruiting and at the end of the growing season. Aqueous-alcoholic extracts of shredded roots were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography.Results.The highest content of allantoin in the roots ofEchium vulgare,Symphytum caucasicum,S. asperumplants was noted at the end of the growing season, respectively 0.915; 0.342–0.658; 2,842–3,426%. Under conditions of low temperatures and increased solar radiation, the content of allantoin in the roots increases 1.2–1.9 times as compared with the plants of the foothill zone.Conclusion.Allantoin plays an important role in the process of adapting species of the family Boraginaceae to oxidative stress caused by hypothermia and increased solar radiation.

scholarly journals Effects of temperature and sand on E. coli survival in a northern lake water microcosm

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reyneé W. Sampson ◽  
Sarah A. Swiatnicki ◽  
Vicki L. Osinga ◽  
Jamie L. Supita ◽  
Colleen M. McDermott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lake Water ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Recreational Waters ◽  
New Host ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Enzyme Substrate ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Effects Of Temperature

A concern for public health officials is the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli), an indicator of fecal contamination, in monitoring recreational waters. While E. coli is unlikely to cause disease in humans, its presence may indicate other more pathogenic microorganisms. Many factors can lead to changes in the survival of E. coli outside of the animal intestine and may affect the probability of colonizing a new host. Survival of bacteria in recreational water has been linked to water temperature, and most recently to the presence of sand on the beach. This project looked at the survival of an environmental E. coli isolate in lake water. Lake water microcosms were placed at 4, 10, 14, or 25°C for up to 36 d and an enzyme-substrate test (Colisure®, IDEXX Corp.) was used to determine the most probable number (MPN) of E. coli/100 ml water. E. coli numbers at all temperatures declined over the duration of the experiment. The decline was most pronounced at 14°C and was slowest at 4°C. The presence of sand in the microcosm increased the time that E. coli survived, regardless of temperature. From a beach management standpoint, these findings indicate that E. coli may persist in the environment in cooler water longer than in the warmer water encountered in late summer.

VARIATIONS IN THE KARA SEA LEVEL, THEIR STERIC FACTORS, AND SOLAR RADIATION DURING 1993-2018

2021 ◽  
pp. 38-52
Author(s):  
A.V. KHOLOPTSEV ◽  
◽  
S.A. PODPORIN ◽  
V.A. SAFONOV ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Water Layer ◽  
Kara Sea ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Steric Factors ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Long Term Variations

The GLORYS12v.1 and ERA5 reanalyses for different months are used to study a relationship between long-term variations in the monthly mean values of sea level in different areas of the Kara Sea and their steric factors during 1993-2018. The areas of the sea were identified where the relationships between these changes and variations in the mean temperature and salinity of the upper quasihomogeneous water layer, as well as the variations in the monthly mean intensity of their insolation, are statistically significant.

THE EFFECT OF SOLAR RADIATION ON CONE INSECTS OF EASTERN WHITE PINE (PINUS STROBUS) IN THE FREDERICTON AREA, NEW BRUNSWICK

1971 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Odera
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
New Brunswick ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Pinus Strobus ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Average Correlation ◽  
Ground Temperatures ◽  
Internal Cone ◽  
Insect Mortality

AbstractInternal cone temperatures recorded in the mornings and in the afternoons demonstrated marked differences between sunny and shaded sites. Analysis of variance confirmed differences between treatment as highly significant. High and low cone temperatures coincided with high and low ground temperatures. The average correlation coefficient relating cone and ground temperatures was highly significant, while that for cone temperatures and cone size was non-significant.Heavy insect mortality occurred in cones exposed to direct solar radiation but mortality remained relatively low in the cones left in the shade. The greatest high-temperature mortality occurred during summer between late June and early August.

scholarly journals Satellite Observations of Seasonal and Interannual Changes of Sea Level and Currents over the Scotian Slope

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1051-1065 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guoqi Han
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Gulf Stream ◽  
Surface Current ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Current Strength ◽  
Altimeter Data ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Shelf Edge ◽  
Edge Current

Abstract Seasonal and interannual sea level and current variations over the Scotian slope are examined using 10 years of Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon (T/P) satellite altimeter data. Geostrophic surface current anomalies normal to ground tracks are derived from the along-track gradients of sea level anomalies. The altimetric current anomalies are combined with a climatological mean circulation field of a finite-element model to construct nominal absolute currents. The seasonal mean results indicate that the sea level is highest in late summer and lowest in late winter and that the surface slope circulation is strong in winter/autumn and weaker in summer/spring. The total transport associated with the westward shelf-edge current and with the eastward slope current, calculated by combining the T/P data with a climatological seasonal mean density field, reveals a substantial seasonal change dominated by the barotropic component. The present analysis reveals prominent interannual changes of the sea level and current anomalies for the study period. The sea level was lowest in 1996/97, when the Gulf Stream was in its most southern position. The mean winter circulation over the Scotian slope was strongest (up to 30 cm s−1 in both the southwestward shelf-edge current and northeastward slope current) in 1998 and weakest (weaker and broader shelf-edge current) in 1996, which may be related to the fluctuation of the equatorward Labrador Current strength and of the Gulf Stream north–south position. The study also suggests that the root-mean-square current magnitude is positively correlated with the occurrence of the Gulf Stream warm-core rings (WCRs) on the interannual scale, while WCR yearly mean kinematic properties seem to have small variations.

scholarly journals Analysis of a 20 m. Firn Pit on the Kesselwandferner (Ötztal Alps)

1966 ◽  
Vol 6 (44) ◽  
pp. 223-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ambach ◽  
H. Eisner
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Alpine Glacier ◽  
Pollen Content ◽  
Melt Water ◽  
Pollen Analyses

AbstractThe firn stratification in the accumulation area of an alpine glacier was studied in a 20 m. deep, vertical pit dug in the summer of 1963 on the Kesselwandferner (3,240 m. above sea-level in the Ötztal Alps). The firn is traversed by ice layers up to 25 cm. in thickness which have been formed by the damming up and freezing of melt water. Firn density increases with depth. At a depth of 13 m. (8 yr. old firn) the density reaches 0.80 g./cm.3as a mean value of one annual net accumulation. Excluding the ice layers, the firn reaches a density of 0.82 g./cm.3in a 10 yr. old layer at a depth of 16 m. The firn stratification in relation to seasons was studied by analyses of the pollen content in the lower part of the pit, beginning with the horizon “late summer 1954”. The late summer horizons obtained from the firn stratification were confirmed by the pollen analyses.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document