Showing papers in "Arctic and alpine research in 1975"
TL;DR: In this article, the seasonal patterns of nutrient concentration and standing stock were documented in aboveground plant biomass of wet meadow tundra vegetation at Barrow, Alaska, and the implications for herbivores of seasonal and species differences in nutrient concentration are discussed.
Abstract: Seasonal patterns of nutrient concentration and standing stock were documented in aboveground plant biomass of wet meadow tundra vegetation at Barrow, Alaska. Mobile elements, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, were present in higher concentrations in tundra than in comparable temperate species. These elements reached peak concentration within 10 days of snowmelt and decreased to about half their maximum concentration in the course of the growing season. The total standing stock of these elements increased more rapidly aboveground than did biomass itself. Nearly half of the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium complement of aboveground material was retranslocated belowground before the end of the growing season. That portion of these nutrients remaining in standing dead material at the end of the growing season was leached at rates reflecting their respective solubilities in plant tissue. Calcium and magnesium increased in concentration and in total content in the course of the growing season. Dicots had higher concentrations of phosphorus and of cations than did monocots. This is discussed with respect to their differences in mycorrhizal association and distribution. The implications for herbivores of seasonal and species differences in nutrient concentration are discussed. Fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus,
168 citations
TL;DR: The last decade has witnessed a growing interest in the sedimentology of the Quaternary and it seems appropriate now to summarize progress in the study of stratified drift, to present results of some recent studies, and to focus attention on avenues of research that should be explored in the near future as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: This publication is the outgrowth of a symposium on Glacial Sedimentology that was held in Buffalo, New York, March 1972. The great interest generated in glacial phenomena during the nineteenth century had important implications and repercussions for the infant field of sedimentology. It provided its fair share of the background stimulus necessary to establish sedimentology as a separate branch of the earth sciences in the twentieth century. The time for reciprocity is now at hand; feedback from the expertise gained in the burgeoning field of sedimentology can greatly help the Quaternary specialist solve particular field problems. The last decade has witnessed a growing interest in the sedimentology of the Quaternary, and it seems appropriate now to summarize progress in the study of stratified drift, to present results of some recent studies, and to focus attention on avenues of research that should be explored in the near future.
147 citations
TL;DR: Arctic streams in the Beaufort Sea drainages from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to the Mackenzie River delta are described and classified in this article, where they originate in the Arctic Mountain Province and are the...
Abstract: Arctic streams in Beaufort Sea drainages from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to the Mackenzie River delta are described and classified. Mountain Streams originate in the Arctic Mountain Province and are the ...
96 citations
TL;DR: Three species of snow algae are known to occur in snow when air temperatures remain above freezing for extended periods of time, and some species may survive this environmental stress more easily than others.
Abstract: Blooms of algae are known to occur in snow when air temperatures remain above freezing for extended periods of time. However, hard freezes may occur after snow algae make their appearance, and some species may survive this environmental stress more easily than others. Three species of snow algae, Raphidonema
92 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors observed a sharp decline in the elevation of the glaciation level between 15 m km-1 along the northwestern margin of the archipelago and 300 m a.s.
Abstract: The glaciation level (GL) over the Queen Elizabeth Islands is highest over the main mountain areas. There are extremely steep gradients approaching 15 m km-1 along the northwestern margin of the archipelago where the glaciation level is very low (300 m a.s.l.). Although the glaciation level mirrors topography on a gross scale, at the finer level the relationship breaks down, probably because of the effect of the mountains on precipitation patterns. There appears to be a sharp decline in the elevation of the glaciation level between
85 citations
TL;DR: The lack of dense, dwarfed tree stands above the timberline is a result of natural at different elevations on Pico de Orizaba, Mex- and man-made fire as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Measurements of soil temperature, soil mois- The lack of dense, dwarfed tree stands above ture, and surface temperature were carried out the timberline seems to be a result of natural at different elevations on Pico de Orizaba, Mex- and man-made fire. The main limiting factor to ico, in order to evaluate the ecology (phenology, tree growth is low soil temperature in spring, plant physiology, and surface fire impact) of the which limits water diffusion through plant cell
63 citations
59 citations
TL;DR: Isoglacihypses depict the glaciation limit of high relief and gentlest where broad topoin New Zealand closely parallel the crest of the graphic saddles occur along the main divide.
Abstract: Isoglacihypses depicting the glaciation limit of high relief and gentlest where broad topoin New Zealand closely parallel the crest of the graphic saddles occur along the main divide. Southern Alps and conform approximately to Topography and a strong windward-leeward isohyets of mean annual precipitation. The precipitation gradient appear to be the principal glaciation limit rises southeastward with a grad- parameters controlling the configuration of the ient of 19 + 6 m km-~, being steepest in areas glaciation limit.
53 citations
TL;DR: Various aspects of the water relations of six species characteristic of the wet, coastal tundra near Barrow, Alaska, were measured to examine the hypothesis that water stress may increase stomatal resistance and inhibit photosynthesis.
Abstract: Various aspects of the water relations of six species (Arctophila fulva, Dupontia fischeri, Carex aquatilis, Eriophorum angustifolium, Potentilla hyparctica, and Salix pulchra) characteristic of the wet, coastal tundra near Barrow, Alaska, were measured during the summers of 1972 and 1973 to examine the hypothesis that water stress may increase stomatal resistance and inhibit photosynthesis. A simulation model of internal water status was constructed to examine this hypothesis. The slopes of the leaf water potential vs. relative saturation deficit (RSD) curves were between -0.6 and 1.8 bars RSD-1. The minimum leaf resistances were between 1 and 3 sec cm-1 for all species but A. fulva which was 6 sec cm-1. The relation
50 citations
TL;DR: Insect fossils and plant macrofossils have been recovered at two exposures in the Old Crow-Porcupine region (northern Yukon Territory) as mentioned in this paper, from an exposure on the Porcupine...
Abstract: Insect fossils and plant macrofossils have been recovered at two exposures in the Old Crow-Porcupine region (northern Yukon Territory). One assemblage of fossils, from an exposure on the Porcupine ...
49 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used data from a snow patch in the Colorado Front Range to show that late-lying snow may increase rock-weathering thickness by two to four times, where free water in the snowpack and subsequent meltwaters are concentrated.
Abstract: Spatial variation in weathering processes may produce differences in rock-weathering rind thickness; this is an important source of potential error in relative age dating. Data from a snow patch in the Colorado Front Range indicate that late-lying snow may increase rock-weathering thicknesses two to four times. Areas of maximum rind thickness appear where free water in the snowpack and subsequent meltwaters are concentrated. Differences of the magnitude re
TL;DR: In this paper, Dominant plant communities and exposed earth surfaces of an eastern Canadian subarctic locality were classified and sampled with respect to shortwave radiative albedo, and physiological significance of the physiological significance.
Abstract: Dominant plant communities and exposed earth surfaces of an eastern Canadian subarctic locality are classified and sampled with respect to shortwave radiative albedo. The physiological significance...
TL;DR: In this article, a total of 157 tree disks taken from north than in the south were used to investigate the response of trees to ground heave by 450 km apart, but occurred two years earlier in the movements.
Abstract: Trees growing on severely cryoturbed soils on of high activity and quiescence in the last 160 permafrost terrain produce reaction wood in years. Such periods can be matched in two areas response to tilting of trees by ground heave 450 km apart, but occur two years earlier in the movements. A total of 157 tree disks taken from north than in the south. Above-average levels 59 different earth hummocks show multiple tilt- of activity are indicated for the period 1847 to ing and recovery. The direction of tilt is general- 1943, and low levels of activity during the last ly away from the center of active hummocks. two decades. There are indications that high The chronology of ground heave movements as levels of activity are related to higher than norrecorded by reaction wood shows brief periods mal fall temperatures and precipitation.
TL;DR: In this paper, a method of computing heat and water balances on glaciers from climatic data is described and tested against observations on Baffin Island glaciers. But the results are compared with distributions of corrie glaciers and ice-free corries in the area.
Abstract: It has been common practice to estimate ice-age climates by calculating the difference in temperature, at an assumed lapse rate, between the elevation of the present snowline and that represented by the lowest corries (cirques) in a region. Such a procedure not only ignores many other factors which may affect corrie glacierization, but is actually incorrect, because the change in snowline for a given temperature change does not depend only on lapse rate. This study suggests that the variation of equilibrium line altitude (ELA) with aspect provides a climatic "signature" supplementary to that of lowest ELA. A method of computing heat and water balances on glaciers from climatic data is described and tested against observations on Baffin Island glaciers. This model is used to estimate ELA as a function of aspect in the Okoa Bay area of Baffin Island, using 1963 to 1972 climatic data, and then for two contrasting climates which have been suggested for early and late stages in the last glaciation. The results are compared with distributions of corrie glaciers and ice-free corries in the area.
TL;DR: In this article, the surface energy balance of an alpine tundra in the Front Range of Colorado is determined for the summer season 1973, based on lysimeter measurements of the vapor flux and vertical profiles of humidity and temperature.
Abstract: The surface energy balance of an alpine tundra in the Front Range of Colorado is determined for the summer season 1973. The problems of using conventional flux-profile relationships to estimate the turbulent fluxes over an alpine tundra are discussed. Because of the massive advection of cool dry air and heterogeneity of the surface, these one-dimensional models must be discarded. An empirical formula for evapotranspiration is derived for the Niwot Ridge site from lysimeter measurements of the vapor flux and vertical profiles of humidity and temperature. The average partition lows:
TL;DR: Two eroded pingos, of the closed system type abundant in the uplands east of the Mackenzie Delta, yielded sections of pond sediment of Holocene age as mentioned in this paper, which confirmed the existence of a closed system.
Abstract: Two eroded pingos, of the closed system type abundant in the uplands east of the Mackenzie Delta, yielded sections of pond sediment of Holocene age. Pollen stratigraphy of both sections confirms th...
TL;DR: In this article, a relative age-dating approach was used to date glacial deposits of late Neoglacial age in the Teton Range by using a set of relative age dating criteria, such as post-Audubon and post-Gannett Peak (300 to 100 BP).
Abstract: Glacial deposits of late Neoglacial age in the Teton Range are dated by use of relative age-dating criteria. Soils of post-Audubon (1,850 to 950 BP) and post-Gannett Peak (300 to 100 BP) age are re...
TL;DR: Forty-two radiocarbon dates on marine shells, bone, peats, buried soils, and marine algae from sites between southern Cumberland Peninsula and Cape Hooper are reported in this paper.
Abstract: Forty-two radiocarbon dates on marine shells, bone, peats, buried soils, and marine algae from sites between southern Cumberland Peninsula and Cape Hooper are reported. A map of site location is included.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined seasonal use of location of these sites in relation the various valley areas and resources was to the late glacial-early Holocene environmental established by ca. 6000 B.C. sequence.
Abstract: Archaeological research in Waterton Lakes climate, physiography, vegetation, and ungulate National Park, Alberta, between 1967 and 1971 behavior, and hydroseres which structured the located 12 archaeological sites dating in the more recent seasonal prehistoric settlement patinterval between ca. 8000 and 5500 B.C. Ten terns in the Park. The data suggest that a settleof these were tested and two excavated. The ment pattern characterized by seasonal use of location of these sites is examined in relation the various valley areas and resources was to the late glacial-early Holocene environmental established by ca. 6000 B.C. sequence, and various present-day variables
TL;DR: Two permafrost profiles from the alpine region of Banff National Park, Alberta, and an ad-mountain region of Alberta and southern jacent region of British Columbia were observed throughout the summer of 1970 as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Two permafrost profiles in the alpine region permafrost is only the second from the Rocky of Banff National Park, Alberta, and an ad- Mountain region of Alberta and southern jacent region of British Columbia were observed British Columbia. throughout the summer of 1970. This report of