William L. Cable

A synthesis dataset of permafrost-affected soil thermal conditions for Alaska, USA

Recent observations of near-surface soil temperatures over the circumpolar Arctic show accelerated warming of permafrost-affected soils. A comprehensive near-surface permafrost temperature dataset is critical to better understand climate impacts and to constrain permafrost thermal conditions and spatial distribution in land system models. We compiled a soil temperatures dataset from 72 monitoring stations in Alaska using data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks permafrost monitoring networks. The array of monitoring stations spans 5 a large range of latitudes from 60.9◦N to 71.3◦N and elevations from near sea level to 1327 m, comprising tundra and boreal forest regions. This dataset consists of monthly ground temperatures at depth up to 1 m, volumetric soil water content, snow depth, and air temperature during 1997 2016. Due to the remoteness and harsh conditions, many stations have missing data. Overall, this dataset consists of 41,667 monthly values. These data have been quality controlled in collection and processing. Meanwhile, we implemented data harmonization validation for the processed dataset. The final product (PF-AK, v0.1) is 10 available at the Arctic Data Center (https://doi.org/10.18739/A2KG55).

Subsurface Temperature, Moisture, Thermal Conductivity and Heat Flux, Barrow, Area A, B, C, D

Subsurface temperature data are being collected along a transect from the center of the polygon through the trough (and to the center of the adjacent polygon for Area D). Each transect has five 1.5m vertical array thermistor probes with 16 thermistors each. This dataset also includes soil pits that have been instrumented for temperature, water content, thermal conductivity, and heat flux at the permafrost table. Area C has a shallow borehole of 2.5 meters depth is instrumented in the center of the polygon.

Surface Meteorology, Barrow, Alaska, Area A, B, C and D, Ongoing from 2012

Meteorological data are being collected at several points within four intensive study areas in Barrow. These data assist in the calculation of the energy balance at the land surface and are also useful as inputs into modeling activities.

Continuous Snow Depth, Intensive Site 1, Barrow, Alaska

Continuous Snow depth data are being collected at several points within four intensive study areas in Barrow, Alaska. These data are being collected to better understand the energy dynamics above the active layer and permafrost. They complement in-situ snow and soil measurements at this location. The data could also be used as supporting measurements for other research and modeling activities.