Coastal cliff temperatures related to the potential for cryogenic weathering processes, western Spitsbergen, Svalbard

[摘要] The main purpose of this research was to measure the near surface ground temperatures and describe the main characteristics of the thermal regime of a sheltered arctic coastal cliff. Measurements were made near Ny-Alesund, western Spitsbergen, Svalbard (79°N, 12°E), in a transect across sediments on top of a coastal cliff, in a 8 m high coastal cliff and across the beach below the cliff. Temperatures were logged hourly from August 1987 to August 1988. A local snow cover of 1-4 m on the beach had a strong influence on surface heat exchange, and hence the dynamics of the ground thermal regime. Late winter temperatures in the cliff and backshore sediments were stable and ranged from -5°C to -9°C. At the first snow melt events in spring there was a large heat flux into the ground due to the release of latent heat from refreezing of meltwater. The interpretation of the temperature records leads to a discussion on some aspects of cryogenic weathering. The snow-melt period in spring and summer may be a period of...

[学科分类] 自然科学（综合）