Paleoenvironmental Dynamics on the Eastern Beringian Edge
Permafrost structures in the Canadian Arctic (Herschel Island, Canada). A ten-meter high headwall of ice and frozen sediments towers over the scientist. The exposure is part of one of the largest thermoerosion features in the Arctic.
Research Topics
During the last cold periods, large areas of Siberia, Alaska and Arctic Canada build a continuous and largely unglaciated land mass between the Eurasian and the Laurentide Ice sheets - called “Beringia” - since the global sea level was lowered by more than 100 m. My study area covers the interface of the formerly glaciated area to the east and the easternmost margin of unglaciated Beringia to the west.
The aim of the project is divided into three major aspects.
- The comparative study of permafrost exposures along the Yukon Coastal Plain will give information regarding landscape evolution under periglacial conditions in areas with different preconditions (formerly glaciated vs. unglaciated).
- Paleoenvironmental proxy data derived from lake sediments from both sides of the Wisconsin glacial margin will be compared to characterise the local climatic, hydrologic and depositional conditions that prevailed since the Late Pleistocene.
- Both approaches described above shall lead to a reconstruction of the late Quaternary landscape evolution.
A multidisciplinary-proxy approach is employed on sediments and ground ice from permafrost exposures and lake deposits. Sedimentary properties cover e.g. the magnetic susceptibility, grain size distribution, biogeochemical parameters as well as stable carbon isotopes. Age determinations using AMS radiocarbon dating and luminescence dating techniques will enable us to establish a chronology of environmental change. Palynological studies will allow assumptions regarding summer temperatures and enable reconstructions how vegetation zones shifted due to climate change. The stable isotope composition (δD, δ18O) of ground ice from permafrost gives information about prevailing temperatures during ice formation and its water source, thus indicating the origin of certain ground ice types.
Cooperations
German Partners
- University of Cologne, Institut für Geologie und Mineralogie, Working Group „Quaternary Geology“ (Martin Melles)
International contacts and collaborations
- McGill University, Dept. of Geography, Montreal, Canada (Wayne Pollard)
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Universität Bern, Bern, Switzerland (Frank Preusser)
Funding
German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU)
Outcomes, Publications
- Fritz, M., Wetterich, S., Meyer, H., Schirrmeister, L., Lantuit, H., Pollard, W. H. Origin and characteristics of massive ground ice on Herschel Island (Western Canadian Arctic) as revealed by stable water isotope and hydrochemical signatures. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes (accepted).
- Fritz, M., Wetterich, S., Meyer, H., Schirrmeister, L, Lantuit, H., Couture, N. J., Pollard, W. H. (2010).The nature and origin of massive ground ice on Herschel Island (Western Canadian Arctic) deduced from stable isotope and hydrochemical investigations, Third European Conference on Permafrost: Thermal state of frozen ground in a changing climate during the IPY; 13-17 June 2010, Svalbard, Norway.
- Fritz, M., Schirrmeister, L., Meyer, H., Lantuit, H., Couture, N., Pollard, W. H. (2010).Towards a paleoenvironmental reconstruction from permafrost deposits in the western Canadian Arctic, IPY Oslo Science Conference, 8-12 June 2010, Oslo, Norway.
- Fritz, M., Meyer, H., Schirrmeister, L., Lantuit, H., Couture, N., Pollard, W. H. (2009).How ground ice studies contribute to paleoenvironmental reconstructions at the easternmost edge of Beringia (Herschel Island, western Canadian Arctic)., Arctic Science Summit Week 2009, 23-28 March 2009, Bergen, Norway.
- Fritz, M., Meyer, H., Schirrmeister, L., Lantuit, H., Couture, N. J., Pollard, W. H. (2009).Stable isotope and hydrochemical signatures of massive ground ice on Herschel Island (Western Canadian Arctic), ArcticNet sixth Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM2009), 8-11 December, Victoria, Canada.
- Fritz, M., Meyer, H., Schirrmeister, L., Lantuit, H., Couture, N., Pollard, W. H. (2008) Ground ice studies on Herschel Island, in the western Canadian Arctic - A useful paleoenvironmental proxy tool., Arctic Change Conference, 9-12 December, Quebec City, Canada.
- Fritz, M., Meyer, H., Schirrmeister, L., Lantuit, H., Couture, N., Pollard, W. H. (2008) Permafrost and Periglacial Processes at the easternmost edge of Beringia in the western Canadian Arctic., Arctic Change Conference, 9-12 December 2008, Quebec City, Canada.
