Pipeline Plateau
Our second day of permafrost probing was at the Pipeline Plateau site. At this site, there were 9 lines of markers, and they intersected each other – with a total of over 200 sites to probe
So we packed a lunch, off we went for the whole day.
The ecosystem we are in is basically bogs (hence the peat), with palsas rising up due to the frost heave. So when we walk along, it is actually like stepping on a sponge, but instead of sinking (because it is wet), you spring back up. And the terrain is full of the mounds of the bog as well
So these mounds are NOT rocks! They are the squishy bog…
During our hikes in and out of the sites, it is common to stop, look at the flora and fauna, and have various discussions, led by our leader Steve.
Steve discussing with Prisca and Sue the lichen (dark spots) on the rock
We also encountered the same food the bears like to eat – cloud berries, which we also sampled, yum!
Cloudberries (I ate some after Lilly gave the thumbs up!)
We arrived at the site at 11am, elevation 1730m, sunny with blue skies, 20C (68F)
At the site, we immediately noticed a bear dig: where a bear has made a giant…sandbox like dig. Maybe for food, maybe because it was curious…
Within the dig, Steve pointed out the ejected tefra (white river ash) from volcanic eruption of Mt Churchill (Alaska), ~1200 years ago, observed especially in bear dig, illustrating the time stamp record of the soil history. Prisca pointed out that based on the thickness of the peat, it takes about 700 years to form.
Top view of bear dig
Side view of bear dig, white river ash visible horizontally
Again, 9 lines were probed for permafrost:
A,B,C,D,E
1,2, 3, 4
Here are some pictures of me and others trying to find a stake along a line:
A fair amount of movement of stake sites (snow melting, animal, etc) – recorded in log. Sometimes the stakes, over the snow, weather, etc. needed to be remarked, so Sue, Prisca and I put our stamp on stake D21
Interestingly, where there were tire tracks from the trucks building the pipeline, if they went through the survey area, the stakes were very close together – to see the effect of man on the permafrost and ecosystem….unfortunately, we did not take a picture (nobody did!!!)
Here is a diagram…
As we left, the temperature was 26C (79F) when we left – an unusually warm day, but it’s all about to change…!
