Seasonal electrical resistivity surveys of a coastal bluff, Barter Island, North Slope Alaska
Select coastal regions of the North Slope of Alaska are experiencing high erosion rates that can be attributed in part to recent warming trends and associated increased storm intensity and frequency. The upper sediment column of the coastal North Slope of Alaska can be described as continuous permafrost underlying a thin (typically less than 1–2 m) active layer that responds variably to seasonal thaw cycles. Assessing the temporal and spatial variability of the active layer and underlying permafrost is essential to better constrain how heightened erosion may impact material fluxes to the atmosphere and the coastal ocean, and how enhanced thaw cycles may impact the stability of the coastal bluffs. In this study, multi-channel electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was used to image shallow subsurface features of a coastal bluff west of Kaktovik, on Barter Island, northeast Alaska. A comparison of a suite of paired resistivity surveys conducted in early and late summer 2014 provided detailed information on how the active layer and permafrost are impacted during the short Arctic summer. Such results are useful in the development of coastal resilience models that tie together fluvial, terrestrial, climatic, geologic, and oceanographic forcings on shoreline stability.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Title | Seasonal electrical resistivity surveys of a coastal bluff, Barter Island, North Slope Alaska |
| DOI | 10.2113/JEEG21.1.37 |
| Authors | Peter W. Swarzenski, Cordell Johnson, Thomas Lorenson, Christopher H. Conaway, Ann E. Gibbs, Li H. Erikson, Bruce M. Richmond, Mark P. Waldrop |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Journal of Environmental & Engineering Geophysics |
| Index ID | 70176420 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center |
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Peter W Swarzenski
Acting Center Director
Cordell Johnson
Physical Scientist
Thomas Lorenson
Physical Scientist
Ann Gibbs
Research Geologist
Li Erikson
Research Oceanographer
Mark P Waldrop, Ph.D.
Research Soil Scientist
Bruce Richmond (Former Employee)
Research Geologist
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Peter W Swarzenski
Acting Center DirectorEmailPhoneCordell Johnson
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneThomas Lorenson
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneAnn Gibbs
Research GeologistEmailPhoneLi Erikson
Research OceanographerEmailPhoneMark P Waldrop, Ph.D.
Research Soil ScientistEmailBruce Richmond (Former Employee)
Research Geologist