Stabilisation of geodetic points in the surroundings of Johann Gregor Mendel Station, James Ross Island, Antarctica

The article is focused on issuing of the permanent stabilisation of geodetic points in the periglacial environment. Periglacial environment of ice-free areas of northern James Ross Island is characterised by specific geomorphological processes connected with freezing and thawing and mass movement processes in the superficial part of the ground. Variable intensity of periglacial processes creates main limitations for traditional methods of permanent geodetic point’s stabilisation. This article describes periglacial processes with regards to the traditional stabilisation methods and suggests alternative solutions, which were practically applied and verified on the ice-free area of Ulu Peninsula, northern James Ross Island

Surface mass balance of Davies Dome and Whisky Glacier on James Ross Island, north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula, based on different volume-mass conversion approaches

This study presents surface mass balance of two small glaciers on James Ross Island calculated using constant and zonally-variable conversion factors. The density of 500 and 900 kg·m–3 adopted for snow in the accumulation area and ice in the ablation area, respectively, provides lower mass balance values that better fit to the glaciological records from glaciers on Vega Island and South Shetland Islands. The difference between the cumulative surface mass balance values based on constant (1.23 ± 0.44 m w.e.) and zonally-variable density (0.57 ± 0.67 m w.e.) is higher for Whisky Glacier where a total mass gain was observed over the period 2009–2015. The cumulative surface mass balance values are 0.46 ± 0.36 and 0.11 ± 0.37 m w.e. for Davies Dome, which experienced lower mass gain over the same period. The conversion approach does not affect much the spatial distribution of surface mass balance on glaciers, equilibrium line altitude and accumulation-area ratio. The pattern of the surface mass balance is almost identical in the ablation zone and very similar in the accumulation zone, where the constant conversion factor yields higher surface mass balance values. The equilibrium line altitude and accumulation-area ratio determined for the investigated glaciers differ by less than 2m and 0.01, respectively. The annual changes of equilibrium line altitude and the mean values determined over the period 2009–2015 for Whisky Glacier (311 ± 16 m a.s.l.) and Davies Dome (393 ± 18 m a.s.l.) coincide with the values reported from Bahía del Diablo Glacier on Vega Island but differ from the glaciological records on South Shetland Islands

Biodiversity of freshwater autotrophs in selected wet places in northern coastal ecosystems of James Ross Island

Freshwater algae and cyanobacteria, their biodiversity in particular, have been studied at the James Ross Island (Antarctica) since 2004. The main aim of presented study was to contribute to species list of a particular seepage that has been monitored repeatedly on the northern deglaciated part of the Island. The seepage is located on north-facing slopes of Berry Hill and supplied by melt water from annual snow depositions and frozen ground. Microclimate conditions have been monitored by an automatic weather station since 2012. For the purpose of this study, samples of microbiological mats were collected from bottom of three streams passing through the seepage dominated by several moss species. Algal and cyanobacterial taxa were determined according to morphological characteristics. Species richness differences between sampling sites were found and evaluated. Dominating taxa differed between sampling sites as well. The species reported in our study were compared with existing literature sources related to James Ross Island. Altogether, 44 algal and cyanobacterial taxa were found. Biodiversity of the seepage is discussed and related to microclimate characteristics of the site

Observation of the Emperor penguins Aptenodytes forsteri in the Prince Gustav Channel related with unusual sea-ice decline in north-western Weddell Sea

A pair of juvenile emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) was observed in the northern coast of James Ross Island, the north-western sector of the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, in January 2017. The penguins originated from the colony located on Snow Hill Island, 120-130 km far from the observation area. Despite the emperor penguin´s ability to migrate over long distances, when they are well-known from different areas in Antarctica, this was the first observation of this species in the north of James Ross Island. In this short paper we discuss the environmental factors which allowed the penguins to reach James Ross Island northern coast, especially significant sea ice variability in this area during last decade

Spectral properties of Antarctic and Alpine vegetation monitored by multispectral camera: Case studies from James Ross Island and Jeseníky Mts.

In this study, we investigated the utility of spectral remote sensing data gathered by a multispectral camera for estimating of vegetation cover in Antarctic vegetation oasis and Arcto-Alpine tundra. The surveys exploiting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and multispectral camera were done in an Antarctic vegetation oasis located at the Northern shore of James Ross Island (Antarctica), and arcto-alpine tundra located in the Jeseníky Mts. (NE Czech Republic, 1 420 m a.s.l.). For the two locations, false colour images of spectral indices (VARI, NGRDI, GLI, RGVI, ExG, NDVI, PRI) were taken and analysis of vegetation types and components of vegetation cover done. Additionally, field research was performed by handheld instruments measuring NDVI, PRI and of selected vegetation components: Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Nostoc commune colonies (Antarctica), lichens grown on flat stones and boulders (the Jeseníky Mts.). The results show UAV photo surveys and imaging of spectral reflectance indices can be used to monitor vegetation types forming Antarctic vegetation oases and arcto-alpine tundra

Soil temperatures in an Atlantic high mountain environment: the Forcadona buried ice patch (Picos de Europa, NW Spain)

The present study focuses on the analysis of the ground and near-rock surface air thermal conditions at the Forcadona glacial cirque (2227 m a.s.l.) located in the Western Massif of the Picos de Europa, Spain. Temperatures have been monitored in three distinct geomorphological and topographical sites in the Forcadona area over the period 2006–11. The Forcadona buried ice patch is the remnant of a Little Ice Age glacier located in the bottom of a glacial cirque. Its location in a deep cirque determines abundant snow accumulation, with snow cover between 8 and 12 months. The presence of snow favours stable soil temperatures and geomorphic stability. Similarly to other Cantabrian Mountains, the annual thermal regime of the soil is defined by two seasonal periods (continuous thaw with daily oscillations and isothermal regime), as well as two short transition periods. However, the results showed evidence of a significantly different annual thermal regime at the ground and near-rock surface air. Relatively stable soil thermal regimes were observed at the moraine and talus sites, while a more dynamic pattern was recorded at the rock wall site. Here, a higher interannual variability in the number of freeze–thaw days was also detected, which showed evidence of the important role of the snow cover as a ground surface insulator in the area. Seasonal frost conditions are widespread today in the high lands of the massif. No permafrost regime was detected in the area, though mean temperatures measured at 0.5 m depth at the Forcadona buried ice patch during 2006–07 (0.1 °C) suggest that permanent negative values may be reached at deeper layersinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Permafrost and active layer research on James Ross Island: An overview

This study summarizes the current state of the active layer and permafrost research on James Ross Island. The analysis of climate parameters covers the reference period 2011–2017. The mean annual air temperature at the AWS-JGM site was -6.9°C (ranged from -3.9°C to -8.2°C). The mean annual ground temperature at the depth of 5 cm was -5.5°C (ranged from -3.3°C to -6.7°C) and it also reached -5.6°C (ranged from -4.0 to -6.8°C) at the depth of 50 cm. The mean daily ground temperature at the depth of 5 cm correlated moderately up to strongly with the air temperature depending on the season of the year. Analysis of the snow effect on the ground thermal regime confirmed a low insulating effect of snow cover when snow thickness reached up to 50 cm. A thicker snow accumulation, reaching at least 70 cm, can develop around the hyaloclastite breccia boulders where a well pronounced insulation effect on the near-surface ground thermal regime was observed. The effect of lithology on the ground physical properties and the active layer thickness was also investigated. Laboratory analysis of ground thermal properties showed variation in thermal conductivity (0.3 to 0.9 W m-1 K-1). The thickest active layer (89 cm) was observed on the Berry Hill slopes site, where the lowest thawing degree days index (321 to 382°C·day) and the highest value of thermal conductivity (0.9 W m-1 K-1) was observed. The clearest influence of lithological conditions on active layer thickness was observed on the CALM-S grid. The site comprises a sandy Holocene marine terrace and muddy sand of the Whisky Bay Formation. Surveying using a manual probe, ground penetrating radar, and an electromagnetic conductivity meter clearly showed the effect of the lithological boundary on local variability of the active layer thickness

Geomorphology of Ulu Peninsula, James Ross Island, Antarctica

This study presents a 1:25,000 geomorphological map of the northern sector of Ulu Peninsula, James Ross Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The map covers an area of c. 250 km2, and documents the landforms and surficial sediments of one of the largest ice-free areas in Antarctica, based on remote sensing and field-based mapping. The large-scale landscape features are determined by the underlying Cretaceous sedimentary and Neogene volcanic geology, which has been sculpted by overlying ice masses during glacial periods. Paraglacial and periglacial features are superimposed upon remnant glacial features, reflecting the post-glacial evolution of the landscape. The study area can be broadly separated into three geomorphological sectors, according to the dominant contemporary Earth-surface processes; specifically, a glacierised southern sector, a paraglacial-dominated eastern sector, and a periglacial-dominated central/northern sector. This map provides a basis for further interdisciplinary research, and insight into the potential future landscape evolution of other parts of the Antarctic Peninsula as the climate warms

Pan-Antarctic map of near-surface permafrost temperatures at 1 km2 scale

Permafrost is present within almost all of the Antarctic's ice-free areas, but little is known about spatial variations in permafrost temperatures except for a few areas with established ground temperature measurements. We modelled a temperature at the top of the permafrost (TTOP) for all the ice-free areas of the Antarctic mainland and Antarctic islands at 1 km2 resolution during 2000–2017. The model was driven by remotely sensed land surface temperatures and downscaled ERA-Interim climate reanalysis data, and subgrid permafrost variability was simulated by variable snow cover. The results were validated against in situ-measured ground temperatures from 40 permafrost boreholes, and the resulting root-mean-square error was 1.9 ∘C. The lowest near-surface permafrost temperature of −36 ∘C was modelled at Mount Markham in the Queen Elizabeth Range in the Transantarctic Mountains. This is the lowest permafrost temperature on Earth, according to global-scale modelling results. The temperatures were most commonly modelled between −23 and −18 ∘C for mountainous areas rising above the Antarctic Ice Sheet and between −14 and −8 ∘C for coastal areas. The model performance was good where snow conditions were modelled realistically, but errors of up to 4 ∘C occurred at sites with strong wind-driven redistribution of snow