Group:
Location
78° 7' 1.2" N, 15° 25' 58.8" E
See map: Google Maps
Brief Site Description:
Dryadbreen and Fardalen (Svalbard)
Detailed Site Description:
These two neighbouring catchments are situated in the high arctic archipelago of Svalbard less than 10 km from the main settlement of Longyearbyen. The area lies in the Central Basin which consists of a series of alternating shale, mudstone and sandstone deposits. The dominant layer exposed at these catchments is the Frysjaodden black shale formation and continuous permafrost is present. Fardalen is an unglaciated catchment whereas Dryadbreen is still glaciated. This project aims, through the paired catchment appoach, to determine the impact of glaciation on shale weathering rates and to investigate shale weathering processes in the Arctic.
Website: www.weathering78n.org
PI: Ruth Hindshaw
Field Site Type:
International affiliate
Registration:
Unregistered
Network(s):
Independent
Study Start Date:
2012
Mean Annual Precipitation:
200 millimeters / year
Average Annual Temperature:
-7°C
Land Cover:
Perennial Ice/Snow
Barren Land
Geology:
shale
Soil Order:
Gelisol
Hydrology: Surface water stream order:
Unknown
Hydrology: Surface water - Stream Flow Performance:
Unknown
Hydrology: Groundwater:
Unknown
Climate:
Polar
Sub-Climate:
Unknown