IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/perpro/v36y2025i4p818-833.html

Impact of Salinity on Ground Ice Distribution Across an Arctic Coastal Polygonal Tundra Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Baptiste Dafflon
  • Florian Soom
  • Craig Ulrich
  • Haruko Wainwright
  • Timothy Kneafsey
  • Robin Lopez
  • John Peterson
  • Yuxin Wu
  • Susan Hubbard

Abstract

The heterogeneous distribution of ground ice in the Arctic is a key driver of uneven ground subsidence as permafrost thaws, significantly impacting infrastructure and surface/subsurface hydrology. These topographic and hydrological changes contribute to major uncertainties in energy and carbon fluxes and storage in a warming Arctic. This study aims to improve our understanding of the controls on ground ice and organic matter distribution within the top 3 m of permafrost in coastal polygonal tundra near Utqiagvik, Alaska. To this end, we apply a neural network approach to bulk density distributions derived from nondestructive X‐ray tomography of soil cores, trained with laboratory analyses, to improve the resolution and spatial coverage of estimates of dry bulk density, ice content, and organic matter content. In addition, we use capacitively coupled geophysical imaging to map soil electrical conductivity and salinity variations. The results show that sedimentary deposits from ocean transgressions, along with subsequent ice wedge polygon geomorphological processes, jointly influence the distribution of ice content at various scales. The impact of the latter decreases with depth, whereas the influence of salinity and sedimentary history increases. Although the controls on the distribution of soil organic matter content (g/cm3) remain unclear, the pronounced heterogeneity in bulk density strongly influences its calculation from laboratory mass fraction measurements (g/g). From a methodological perspective, the interdependencies among soil components and the need for increased data coverage underscore the value of high‐resolution density measurements, such as using X‐ray tomography. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of considering salinity constraints on ice content distribution in coastal permafrost regions. The results are expected to aid in the development of data products and process representations in geomorphological and ecosystem models.

Suggested Citation

  • Baptiste Dafflon & Florian Soom & Craig Ulrich & Haruko Wainwright & Timothy Kneafsey & Robin Lopez & John Peterson & Yuxin Wu & Susan Hubbard, 2025. "Impact of Salinity on Ground Ice Distribution Across an Arctic Coastal Polygonal Tundra Environment," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(4), pages 818-833, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:perpro:v:36:y:2025:i:4:p:818-833
    DOI: 10.1002/ppp.70008
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.70008
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/ppp.70008?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Neslihan Taş & Emmanuel Prestat & Shi Wang & Yuxin Wu & Craig Ulrich & Timothy Kneafsey & Susannah G. Tringe & Margaret S. Torn & Susan S. Hubbard & Janet K. Jansson, 2018. "Landscape topography structures the soil microbiome in arctic polygonal tundra," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Fabrice Calmels & Michel Allard, 2004. "Ice segregation and gas distribution in permafrost using tomodensitometric analysis," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(4), pages 367-378, October.
    3. Tomislav Hengl & Jorge Mendes de Jesus & Gerard B M Heuvelink & Maria Ruiperez Gonzalez & Milan Kilibarda & Aleksandar Blagotić & Wei Shangguan & Marvin N Wright & Xiaoyuan Geng & Bernhard Bauer-Marsc, 2017. "SoilGrids250m: Global gridded soil information based on machine learning," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(2), pages 1-40, February.
    4. Christian Hauck & Christof Kneisel, 2006. "Application of capacitively‐coupled and DC electrical resistivity imaging for mountain permafrost studies," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(2), pages 169-177, April.
    5. Simone Fatichi & Dani Or & Robert Walko & Harry Vereecken & Michael H. Young & Teamrat A. Ghezzehei & Tomislav Hengl & Stefan Kollet & Nurit Agam & Roni Avissar, 2020. "Soil structure is an important omission in Earth System Models," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Jan Hjort & Olli Karjalainen & Juha Aalto & Sebastian Westermann & Vladimir E. Romanovsky & Frederick E. Nelson & Bernd Etzelmüller & Miska Luoto, 2018. "Degrading permafrost puts Arctic infrastructure at risk by mid-century," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniel B. Metcalfe & Emily Anders & Hanna Axén & E. Petter Axelsson & April E. Bermudez & David C. Bartholomew & Nathalie Butt & Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz & Nitin Chaudhary & Timon Callebaut & Cecilia A. , 2025. "Gaps in tropical science from unrepresentative distribution of sampling and citation across natural terrestrial environments," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Nina Tiel & Fabian Fopp & Philipp Brun & Johan Hoogen & Dirk Nikolaus Karger & Cecilia M. Casadei & Lisha Lyu & Devis Tuia & Niklaus E. Zimmermann & Thomas W. Crowther & Loïc Pellissier, 2024. "Regional uniqueness of tree species composition and response to forest loss and climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Elliott R. Dossou-Yovo & Sander J. Zwart & Amadou Kouyaté & Ibrahima Ouédraogo & Oladele Bakare, 2018. "Predictors of Drought in Inland Valley Landscapes and Enabling Factors for Rice Farmers’ Mitigation Measures in the Sudan-Sahel Zone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Linghua Qiu & Junhao He & Chao Yue & Philippe Ciais & Chunmiao Zheng, 2024. "Substantial terrestrial carbon emissions from global expansion of impervious surface area," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. N. A. Serova & V. A. Serova, 2021. "Transport Infrastructure of the Russian Arctic: Specifics Features and Development Prospects," Studies on Russian Economic Development, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 214-220, March.
    6. Sergey V. Alexeev & Ludmila P. Alexeeva & Yurij K. Vasil'chuk & Artem A. Svetlakov & Natalia V. Kulagina, 2021. "Permafrost of the Oka Plateau (Eastern Sayan Ridge)," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(3), pages 368-391, July.
    7. B. N. Porfiriev & D. O. Eliseev, 2023. "Scenario Forecasts of Expected Damage from Permafrost Degradation: Regional and Industry Issues," Studies on Russian Economic Development, Springer, vol. 34(5), pages 651-659, October.
    8. Pierre Delmelle & Sébastien Biass & Mathilde Paque & Benjamin Lobet, 2025. "Explosive volcanic eruptions can act as carbon sinks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    9. Huang, Yawen & Tao, Bo & Lal, Rattan & Lorenz, Klaus & Jacinthe, Pierre-Andre & Shrestha, Raj K. & Bai, Xiongxiong & Singh, Maninder P. & Lindsey, Laura E. & Ren, Wei, 2023. "A global synthesis of biochar's sustainability in climate-smart agriculture - Evidence from field and laboratory experiments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    10. Mark A. Anthony & Leho Tedersoo & Bruno Vos & Luc Croisé & Henning Meesenburg & Markus Wagner & Henning Andreae & Frank Jacob & Paweł Lech & Anna Kowalska & Martin Greve & Genoveva Popova & Beat Frey , 2024. "Fungal community composition predicts forest carbon storage at a continental scale," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    11. Tong Qiu & Robert Andrus & Marie-Claire Aravena & Davide Ascoli & Yves Bergeron & Roberta Berretti & Daniel Berveiller & Michal Bogdziewicz & Thomas Boivin & Raul Bonal & Don C. Bragg & Thomas Caignar, 2022. "Limits to reproduction and seed size-number trade-offs that shape forest dominance and future recovery," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    12. Troy J. Bouffard & Ekaterina Uryupova & Klaus Dodds & Vladimir E. Romanovsky & Alec P. Bennett & Dmitry Streletskiy, 2021. "Scientific Cooperation: Supporting Circumpolar Permafrost Monitoring and Data Sharing," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-17, June.
    13. Luca Piciullo & Vittoria Capobianco & Håkon Heyerdahl, 2022. "A first step towards a IoT-based local early warning system for an unsaturated slope in Norway," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 114(3), pages 3377-3407, December.
    14. Tingting Deng & Hang Lyu & Rong Zhong & Yunting Zou & Jianan Wang & Yu Li & Yue Guo, 2026. "Incorporating Ecoregions and Freeze–Thaw Effects Effectively Improves the Accuracy of Machine Learning Models for Baseflow Prediction in Seasonally Frozen Regions," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 40(3), pages 1-16, February.
    15. Joachim Maes & Adrián G. Bruzón & José I. Barredo & Sara Vallecillo & Peter Vogt & Inés Marí Rivero & Fernando Santos-Martín, 2023. "Accounting for forest condition in Europe based on an international statistical standard," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    16. Telmo José Mendes & Diego Silva Siqueira & Eduardo Barretto Figueiredo & Ricardo de Oliveira Bordonal & Mara Regina Moitinho & José Marques Júnior & Newton La Scala Jr., 2021. "Soil carbon stock estimations: methods and a case study of the Maranhão State, Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(11), pages 16410-16427, November.
    17. Hongwei Wang & Huijun Jin & Tao Che & Xiaoying Li & Liyun Dai & Yuan Qi & Chunlin Huang & Ruixia He & Jinlong Zhang & Rui Yang & Dongliang Luo & Xiaoying Jin, 2024. "Influences of Snow Cover on the Thermal Regimes of Xing'an Permafrost in Northeast China in 1960s–2010s," Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(2), pages 188-201, April.
    18. Joachim Eisenberg & Fabrice A. Muvundja, 2020. "Quantification of Erosion in Selected Catchment Areas of the Ruzizi River (DRC) Using the (R)USLE Model," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, April.
    19. Jean-François Bastin & Nicolas Latte & Jan Bogaert & Claude A. Garcia & Fabio Berzaghi & Fernando T. Maestre & Jens-Christian Svenning & Emeline Assede & Sabas Barima & Timothée Besisa & Samuel Boucho, 2025. "Global alternatives of natural vegetation cover," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    20. Banerjee, Onil & Crossman, Neville & Vargas, Renato & Brander, Luke & Verburg, Peter & Cicowiez, Martin & Hauck, Jennifer & McKenzie, Emily, 2020. "Global socio-economic impacts of changes in natural capital and ecosystem services: State of play and new modeling approaches," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:wly:perpro:v:36:y:2025:i:4:p:818-833. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://doi.org/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1530 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.