Energy and Waterfluxes

Profile

Icepolygones — Ice-wedge polygons (Photo: Konstanze Piel)

In our research group, we aim to elucidate the two major cycles (water and heat) in the complex Arctic landscape system at scales from metres to kilometres (meso-scale). Our main objective is to close the gap between our small-scale process understanding and the large-scale that is accessible from satellite remote sensing.

We work intensively at two Arctic sites, one in Siberia (Lena Delta) and one in Spitsbergen (Ny-Alesund). In an international cooperation the additional sites in Alaska and Canada complement the circumpolar analysis. The Arctic ecosystems range from warm, maritime conditions with low above ground biomass (Spitsbergen), to medium, continental climate with high above ground biomass (North Slope, Alaska) to extreme cold, dry but ice rich permafrost conditions with medium biomass (Lena Delta, Siberia).

By studying these different locations, we hope to gain an understanding of how changes in annual and inter-annual heat and water processes potentially offset the balance and stability of the Arctic climate system.

In particular, we are focused on:

Establishing spatial and temporal linkages between water and energy fluxes at the plot and landscape scales in different permafrost affected ecosystems;
Developing a process-oriented model for the typical Arctic permafrost system to predict subsurface processes (soil water and heat);
Use of innovative aerial imaging methods, including telescopic rods, balloons, kites and drones;
Spatially distributed measurements of soil thermal and hydrologic dynamics and micrometeorology;
Long term monitoring of meteorological and ground conditions at Arctic field sites (in Siberia, Svalbard and Canada)

Our research is based at the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Research Unit Potsdam in cooperation with the Climate Geography at Humboldt University.

Methods

Field measurements

Field measurements are a crucial part for our studies and allow us to get detailed information about the physical processes at our test sites. Measurements include energy and carbon fluxes, water balance terms, but also weather conditions as well as soil parameters. There are some instruments installed that are permanently recording – such as the weather stations – more specific or sophisticated measurements are done once or twice a year during field campaigns.

Remote Sensing

Remote sensing is the approach to monitor the landsurface from 'remote' - meaning without physically touching the object of interest. This can either be done by cameras installed above the ground, cameras transported by airplanes or sensors on satellites circling around the world. In our group we are using the following different methods: Aerial Imaging, Thermal Imaging and Radar.

Modelling

Modelling plays an important role in permafrost research. With the help of the right modelling tools, the physical processeshappening in the frozen soils can be calculated based on measured input data, such as temperature, precipitation, soil conditions, energy fluxes and more. In our group we are mainly working with hydrologcial models computing the waterbalance terms, as well as energy flux models.