Permafrost and Rock Glacier Dynamics in the Antarctic Peninsula

Since 1990, a joint Argentine, Japanese, and Italian research group has studied cryological features in the northern Antarctic Peninsula. The dataset includes measurements of permafrost thickness, surface flow patterns from tracked blocks, and temperature data from thermo-registering stations. It covers features like rock glaciers, protalus lobes, and stone-banked terraces on James Ross and Seymour Islands.

Use Cases

• Model permafrost development rates based on thickness and isotope dating data from marine terraces.
• Analyze rock glacier flow regimes based on surface flow patterns from tracked blocks.
• Study ground thermal regimes based on mean annual temperature and geothermal gradient data from sensors.
• Characterize the morphology and movement of stone-banked terraces based on slope, dimensions, and measured moving rates.

Strengths

• Includes specific permafrost development rates: 0.01 to 0.015 m/y for Seymour Island and 0.0018 to 0.0016 m/y for James Ross Island.
• Contains precise measurements for stone-banked terraces, including slope (~5 degrees), dimensions (up to 60m long, 30m wide), and moving rate (<5 cm/y).
• Data collection spans over three decades from a multi-national scientific collaboration.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

Joint research group 'Criologia' involving Instituto Antártico Argentino (IAA), Institute of Low Temperature Science (ILTS), and Third University of Rome.

Collection Method

Field measurements using geo-electrical resistivity, block tracking, thermo-registering stations, and isotope dating.

Time Range

Research program active since 1990.

Freshness

unknown

Geography

Northern Antarctic Peninsula, specifically James Ross Island and Seymour Island.