Frost-table and Thaw Depths in the Littoral Zone near Peard Bay, Alaska

Abstract

Measurements were made of thaw depths and of sub-surface temperatures along four profiles, between late May and late August. On the upper beach levels, thaw proceeded rapidly following the disappearance of surface snow, but then became much slower. Near the water line, thaw was delayed by the presence of beach-fast ice, but thereafter increased steadily to greater depths than on the upper beach. Greater thaw depths were reached on barrier beaches than on beaches backed by tundra. On the upper beach, thaw depths and zero-degree depths did not differ significantly, but near the water line they were at variance due to the presence of saline pore waters.