A groundbreaking study from Dartmouth College has revealed that the frozen soil in the Arctic is the primary force shaping the northernmost rivers on Earth. The permafrost, a thick layer of soil that remains frozen for two or more years, is responsible for confining Arctic rivers to smaller areas and shallower valleys compared to rivers in warmer regions. This discovery, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, sheds light on the significant impact of permafrost on the Earth’s landscape.
Lead author Joanmarie Del Vecchio, along with her advisors Marisa Palucis and Colin Meyer, conducted the study to understand the tug of war between landscape-smoothing processes and river-carving forces. The findings suggest that the freezing and thawing of permafrost play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this battle, with potential implications for the release of carbon trapped in the soil and its impact on the environment.
The researchers were inspired to investigate the phenomenon after observing the limited river area in Arctic watersheds during fieldwork in Alaska. Del Vecchio’s realization that the hillslopes appeared to be prevailing over the river channels sparked the idea for the study, which was made possible by recent advancements in surface and digital elevation data.
2024-02-02 02:00:05
Post from phys.org