Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

GIS-based Maps and Area Estimates of Northern Hemisphere Permafrost Extent during the Last Glacial Maximum

Lindgren, Amelie LU ; Hugelius, Gustaf ; Kuhry, Peter ; Christensen, Torben R. LU and Vandenberghe, Jef (2016) In Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 27(1). p.6-16
Abstract

This study presents GIS-based estimates of permafrost extent in the northern circumpolar region during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), based on a review of previously published maps and compilations of field evidence in the form of ice-wedge pseudomorphs and relict sand wedges. We focus on field evidence localities in areas thought to have been located along the past southern border of permafrost. We present different reconstructions of permafrost extent, with areal estimates of exposed sea shelf, ice sheets and glaciers, to assess areas of minimum, likely and maximum permafrost extents. The GIS-based mapping of these empirical reconstructions allows us to estimate the likely area of northern permafrost during the LGM as 34.5 million... (More)

This study presents GIS-based estimates of permafrost extent in the northern circumpolar region during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), based on a review of previously published maps and compilations of field evidence in the form of ice-wedge pseudomorphs and relict sand wedges. We focus on field evidence localities in areas thought to have been located along the past southern border of permafrost. We present different reconstructions of permafrost extent, with areal estimates of exposed sea shelf, ice sheets and glaciers, to assess areas of minimum, likely and maximum permafrost extents. The GIS-based mapping of these empirical reconstructions allows us to estimate the likely area of northern permafrost during the LGM as 34.5 million km2 (which includes 4.7 million km2 of permafrost on exposed coastal sea shelves). The minimum estimate is 32.7 million km2 and the maximum estimate is 35.3 million km2. The extent of LGM permafrost is estimated to have been between c. 9.1 to 11.7 million km2 larger than its current extent on land (23.6 million km2). However, 2.4 million km2 of the lost land area currently remains as subsea permafrost on the submerged coastal shelves. The LGM permafrost extent in the northern circumpolar region during the LGM was therefore about 33 percent larger than at present. The net loss of northern permafrost since the LGM is due to its disappearance in large parts of Eurasia, which is not compensated for by gains in North America in areas formerly covered by the Laurentide ice sheet.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Area, GIS, LGM, Paleoenvironment, Permafrost
in
Permafrost and Periglacial Processes
volume
27
issue
1
pages
11 pages
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • scopus:84959441935
  • wos:000371830000002
ISSN
1045-6740
DOI
10.1002/ppp.1851
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9c556c99-ffbe-4961-804e-a0cf5b0c4cb4
date added to LUP
2016-09-21 11:24:38
date last changed
2024-04-19 10:01:03
@article{9c556c99-ffbe-4961-804e-a0cf5b0c4cb4,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study presents GIS-based estimates of permafrost extent in the northern circumpolar region during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), based on a review of previously published maps and compilations of field evidence in the form of ice-wedge pseudomorphs and relict sand wedges. We focus on field evidence localities in areas thought to have been located along the past southern border of permafrost. We present different reconstructions of permafrost extent, with areal estimates of exposed sea shelf, ice sheets and glaciers, to assess areas of minimum, likely and maximum permafrost extents. The GIS-based mapping of these empirical reconstructions allows us to estimate the likely area of northern permafrost during the LGM as 34.5 million km<sup>2</sup> (which includes 4.7 million km<sup>2</sup> of permafrost on exposed coastal sea shelves). The minimum estimate is 32.7 million km<sup>2</sup> and the maximum estimate is 35.3 million km<sup>2</sup>. The extent of LGM permafrost is estimated to have been between c. 9.1 to 11.7 million km<sup>2</sup> larger than its current extent on land (23.6 million km<sup>2</sup>). However, 2.4 million km<sup>2</sup> of the lost land area currently remains as subsea permafrost on the submerged coastal shelves. The LGM permafrost extent in the northern circumpolar region during the LGM was therefore about 33 percent larger than at present. The net loss of northern permafrost since the LGM is due to its disappearance in large parts of Eurasia, which is not compensated for by gains in North America in areas formerly covered by the Laurentide ice sheet.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lindgren, Amelie and Hugelius, Gustaf and Kuhry, Peter and Christensen, Torben R. and Vandenberghe, Jef}},
  issn         = {{1045-6740}},
  keywords     = {{Area; GIS; LGM; Paleoenvironment; Permafrost}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{6--16}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Permafrost and Periglacial Processes}},
  title        = {{GIS-based Maps and Area Estimates of Northern Hemisphere Permafrost Extent during the Last Glacial Maximum}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1851}},
  doi          = {{10.1002/ppp.1851}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}