Progress & Accomplishments

Geophysical monitoring shows that spatial heterogeneity in thermohydrological dynamics reshapes a transitional permafrost system

Geophysical monitoring shows that transitional permafrost systems evolve through complex infiltration pathways and energy fluxes, including lateral flow.

Simulating arctic plant functional types in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model Land Model

NGEE Arctic researchers have updated arctic plant functional types (PFTs) in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Land Model (ELM) based on field measurements of biomass and species composition across Seward Peninsula plant communities.

Triose phosphate utilization limitation: An unnecessary complexity in terrestrial biosphere models

Model representation of the use of the end products of photosynthesis, triose phosphates, does not capture the independent response of triose phosphate utilization (TPU) to temperature, is based on uncertain assumptions.

Changes in precipitation and air temperature contribute comparably to permafrost degradation in a warmer climate

Increases in precipitation under the 21st century warmer climate will hasten permafrost degradation as much as warming.

Virtual NGEE Arctic Ecosystem Type workshop a success

The Ecosystem Type workshop was held in October and included participation from 60 scientists, students, and researchers from the NGEE Arctic team.

Modeling permafrost across the Seward Penninsula, Alaska

Scientists at UAF developed a spatially distributed permafrost model for the Seward Peninsula, and then simulated present-day ground temperature dynamics and projected those into the future according to climate scenarios.

Topographical controls on the Seward Penninsula, Alaska

Topography and landscapes hydrology are key environmental controls on observed Arctic shrub expansion of the past three decades.

A model of ice wedge polygon drainage in changing Arctic terrain

A new fast model based on hydrologic first-principles captures drainage from inundated ice-wedge polygons.

NGEE Arctic Chief Scientist contributes to State of the Climate in 2019 report

Joined by colleagues from around the world, Vladimir Romanovsky documents the current state of terrestrial permafrost for wide areas of the Arctic.

Understanding inundation and drainage patterns of ice-wedge polygons

New insights are provided into drainage timing and flow patterns in inundated ice-wedge polygons based on fundamental hydrogeology