Microtopography determines how active layer depths respond to changes in temperature and precipitation at the NGEE-Arctic BEO sites

Microtopography determines how active layer depths respond to changes in temperature and precipitation at the NGEE-Arctic BEO sites

We applied a well-tested three-dimensional coupled biogeochemistry, hydrology, vegetation, and thermal model (ecosys) to polygonal tundra sites to quantify and scale the effects of microtopography on active layer depths.
Ecosys accurately represented the BEO polygonal tundra site (a) eddy covariance measured surface energy and water fluxes and (b) soil thermal and ice content (shown for a Low-Centered Polygon center).