Isaac Scientific Publishing

Geosciences Research

Investigation and Quantification of Water Track Networks in Boreal Regions of Alaska

Download PDF (1698.4 KB) PP. 7 - 23 Pub. Date: November 28, 2016

DOI: 10.22606/gr.2016.11002

Author(s)

  • Mendbayar Uyanga*
    Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
  • Misra Debasmita*
    Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
  • Gupta Tushar*
    Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
  • Ghosh Tathagata*
    Department of Mining and Geological Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States

Abstract

Water tracks are the dominant drainage pathways that route water through the soil over permafrost in polar environments. Despite their important role in polar ecosystems, water tracks remain relatively unexplored, and the existing studies have been largely confined to tundra areas devoid of vegetation. This study aims to initiate the investigation of water tracks in thickly vegetated subarctic borealis, with objectives to: 1) characterize different types of water tracks in the subarctic; 2) develop methods for mapping water track distribution in boreal areas; 3) perform preliminary analysis of the geotechnical impacts of water tracks on engineered infrastructure. Two highly-varying water tracks were characterized, and led to different but quite promising insights. Several techniques to map water tracks in the subarctic were attempted. Preliminary analysis of geophysical data correlation was performed to determine geophysical signature of water tracks and to assess their geotechnical implications.

Keywords

Water tracks, drainage network, groundwater, hydraulic properties, remote sensing, infrastructure, Alaska, boreal region, subarctic, subsidence, sinkhole, climate change, impacts of climate change.

References

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