Crack in the Tundra

Observation: Cracks in the tundra are rare but have been seen before.

LEO says: Permafrost thawing and change can create a number of different landscape features. When moisture occurs, it collects on top of the permafrost because it cannot pass through the frozen layers. As moisture collects, the soil above the permafrost (called the active layer) becomes saturated. The wet soil layer will expand and contract during periods of freeze and thaw, which creates several different features, including thermokarsts, cracks, ice wedges, and pingos. Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game "Alaska's Tundra & Wildlife, 2001"

This observation has been shared with the Permafrost Laboratory at the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Resources:

University of Alaska Fairbanks, Geophysical Institute Permafrost Laboratory

Videos:

Adapting to a Changing Arctic: Permafrost Thaw – Selawik, Alaska, "About 70% of the houses in Selawik are impacted by permafrost thaw." Raymond Ballot, Mayor. Freeze up, result of broken waterline. | A simple level can be installed to monitor foundations. | With the rapid rate of thawing, many structures need to be leveled every year. | Allison Woodward - foundation level idea. By ANTHC Center for Climate and Health (Nov 2011)

Thawing Permafrost -- Changing Planet – Because of a warming atmosphere, permafrost -- the frozen ground that covers the top of the world -- has been thawing rapidly over the last three decades. But there is cause for concern beyond the far north, because the carbon released from thawing permafrost could raise global temperatures even higher. Source: The Changing Planet Video Series explores the impact that climate change is having on our planet, and is provided by the National Science Foundation Science360 Video & NBC Learn. (Dec 2012)

Thermokarst in Alaska's Arctic: Arctic Network Inventory and Monitoring Program – Permafrost underlies most of Alaska's Arctic and affects nearly everything in the arctic ecosystem. Thawing of permafrost produces pits, ponds, lakes, slumps and landslides. Dave Swanson, NPS terrestrial ecologist, takes you on an exploration of thermokarst features (thaw slumps) and explains how NPS monitors change in thermokarst (thaw slumps), in Alaska's most northern parks. For more information on thermokarst and other permafrost related features visit, National Park Service, Arctic Network. (Dec 2012)

The LEO Network (YouTube) Channel – Permafrost observations from the Local Environmental Observers (LEO) Network from 2009 to 2017. LEO's are local experts who share observations about environmental change. You can review observations by date, location, or by topic by using the search feature.