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At least 37 records · Page 2

Binary Atomically Dispersed Metal-Site Catalysts with Core–Shell Nanostructures for O 2 and CO 2 Reduction Reactions

Engineering atomically dispersed metal site catalysts with controlled local coordination environments and 3D nanostructures effectively improves the catalytic performance for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO 2 RR), which are critical for clean energy conversion and chemical production. Herein, an innovative approach for preparing core-shell nanostructured catalysts with different single-metal sites in the core and the shell, respectively, is developed. In particular, as the shell precursors, covalent organic polymers with a thin layered structure that is polymerized in situ and coated on a metal-doped ZIF-derived carbon core are used, followed by a controlled thermal activation. The selective combination and construction of different metal sites increase active site density in the surface layers, promote structural robustness, facilitate mass/charge transfer, and yield a possible synergy of active sites in the core and the shell. The p-FeNC(shell)@CoNC(core), consisting of a polymerized FeTPPCl-derived carbon layer (p-FeNC) on a Co-doped ZIF-derived carbon (CoNC), exhibits remarkable ORR activity and stability in acidic media along with encouraging durability in H 2 –air fuel cells. Likewise, a p-FeNC(shell)@NiNC(core) catalyst demonstrates outstanding CO 2 RR activity and stability. Hence, integrating two appropriate single-metal sites in core and shell precursors, respectively, can modulate morphological and catalytic properties for a possible synergy toward different electrocatalysis processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

How initial conditions-, structural-, and parameter-based model uncertainty interact and influence predictions in permafrost ecosystems: Modeling Archive

This dataset contains model output and input data, as well as source code examples for the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model with the Dynamic Vegetation Model and Dynamic Organic Soil (DVM-DOS-TEM) for the field sites Imnavait creek and the Bonanza creek Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTER). The data covers simulations from the last glacial maximum (LGM) until 2100 for a selection of paleo scenarios, setting the mean temperature of the LGM up to 10°C lower than pre-industrial conditions. The model structure was modulated to represent various model versions, and this dataset contains the relevant changes in the source code. The raw output data, the processed statistical data, the setup and processing scripts as well as parameter value distribution files from a parameter sensitivity analysis are included as well. Model outputs include active layer depth, organic soil carbon, soil layer depths, gross primary productivity (GPP) with and without nitrogen limitation, net primary productivity (NPP), soil liquid water content, heterotrophic, maintenance, and growth respiration, soil temperature, and vegetation carbon (*.nc files). The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments in the Arctic (NGEE Arctic) project is a research effort to reduce uncertainty in the Department of Energy’s Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) by developing a predictive understanding of Arctic tundra ecosystems underlain by permafrost and to quantify feedbacks from the Arctic tundra to the Earth system. NGEE Arctic is supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research.Over Phases 1–3, observations made by the NGEE Arctic team across a gradient of permafrost landscapes in Arctic Alaska improved the representation of tundra processes in the land surface component of E3SM (the E3SM Land Model, ELM). Model improvements emphasized unique aspects of permafrost environments and explored reductions in model complexity while retaining predictive power. The Arctic-informed ELM developed by NGEE Arctic has been used to make novel predictions on processes ranging from permafrost thaw to soil biogeochemical cycling to Earth system feedbacks associated with the unique characteristics of tundra plants. In Phase 4, the NGEE Arctic team is evaluating our new predictive understanding under novel conditions across the Arctic domain. In collaboration with partners at long-term pan-Arctic research sites we are examining whether an Arctic-informed ELM can faithfully simulate interactions among surface and subsurface processes at site, regional, and pan-Arctic scales. In turn, we are using variety of tools to dynamically extend and evaluate ELM inference, with an emphasis on data synthesis and pan-Arctic model evaluation, reintegration of code with an evolving E3SM, scaling across heterogeneous Arctic landscapes, and the appropriate representation of the impacts of increasingly frequent Arctic disturbances.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Tuning electrochemically driven surface transformation in atomically flat LaNiO 3 thin films for enhanced water electrolysis

Structure–activity relationships built on descriptors of bulk and bulk-terminated surfaces are the basis for the rational design of electrocatalysts. However, electrochemically driven surface transformations complicate the identification of such descriptors. In this work, we demonstrate how the as-prepared surface composition of (001)-terminated LaNiO 3 epitaxial thin films dictates the surface transformation and the electrocatalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction. Specifically, the Ni termination (in the as-prepared state) is considerably more active than the La termination, with overpotential differences of up to 150 mV. A combined electrochemical, spectroscopic and density-functional theory investigation suggests that this activity trend originates from a thermodynamically stable, disordered NiO 2 surface layer that forms during the operation of Ni-terminated surfaces, which is kinetically inaccessible when starting with a La termination. Our work thus demonstrates the tunability of surface transformation pathways by modifying a single atomic layer at the surface and that active surface phases only develop for select as-synthesized surface terminations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Arctic shrub size and leaf traits, northern Alaska, summer 2017 (Version 2.0)

This data package contains leaf and size trait and environmental data collected from 170 plots of rapidly expanding shrub genera (Alnus, Betula, and Salix) and a widespread sedge (Eriophorum vaginatum) along a latitudinal and climate gradient in northern Alaska. The trait data were collected in summer 2017 and include leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf nitrogen concentration, leaf delta 15N, leaf delta 13C, shrub height, aboveground biomass, and the ratio of root biomass to aboveground biomass. These raw data support a submitted manuscript that examines the intraspecific variations of size, leaf and root traits of shrubs across the graminoid-dominated nutrient-poor arctic tundra and reveals the environmental drivers of deciduous shrub traits in tundra ecosystems (Fraterrigo et al., submitted). Data are presented by site (n=5) and patch (shrub or sedge plot) in separate csv files. The location data are provided in the “plot coordinates” file; all other files contain the data in the file title. Detailed methods are in the submitted manuscript. A companion data package contains root trait data collected simultaneously from the same plots (Fraterrigo and Chen, 2020). See the "Related references" section for more information.2023/07/20 Update: The latest version of this dataset publication is version 2.0. The latest version of the data package was updated to correct the leaf size trait.csv file.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Shrub Expansion Simulations at Trail Valley Creek Tundra site using E3SM Land Model (ELM) Arctic-focused Version

The warming of the Arctic is causing substantial compositional, structural, and functional changes in tundra vegetation including shrub and densification in parts of the Arctic. Assessing the impact of these changes in vegetation composition on the Arctic’s carbon and energy budgets is important to constrain projected local and global surface-atmosphere exchanges. We conduct a sensitivity analysis of the projected surface energy fluxes, soil carbon pools, and carbon dioxide fluxes (net ecosystem exchange, gross primary production, and ecosystem respiration) between present day and 2100 to different shrub expansion rates and air temperature increases under future emission scenarios (intermediate – RCP4.5, and high – RCP8.5) using the Arctic-focused version of the Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) Land Model (ELM). We focus on Trail Valley Creek (TVC), a mineral upland tundra site located in the western Canadian Arctic, which is experiencing tall shrub densification and expansion. In this study, we run TVC under two different warming scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP 8.5 and simulate different shrubification rates projected until year 2100. In this repository, we include all the forcing, input, parameters, and output data corresponding to all the simulations performed. flmd.csv includes a detailed description of the datasets files.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

In Situ Soil Moisture and Thaw Depth Measurements Coincident with Airborne SAR Data Collections, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2022

The in-situ soil moisture and thaw depth measurements provided in this dataset were collected coincident with airborne overflights of L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instruments at the Teller, Kougarok, and Council study sites on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Overflights occurred on August 19, 2022. Soil moisture data at Teller and Kougarok was collected on August 19, and at Council on August 20. Thaw depth, soil pits, and any additional measurements were recorded on August 20 and 21. Field measurements and flights were conducted during the summer of 2022 as a collaboration between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Arctic-Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) Project’s Airborne SAR Campaign and the Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments (NGEE) Arctic Project. This dataset includes a data file (*.csv), a data dictionary (*_dd.csv) and a file-level metadata (*_flmd.csv). The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), a research effort to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research. The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska. Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy’s Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > FROZEN GROUND↗

Soil moisture, physical and chemical properties coincident with airborne SAR data collections for 2017 and 2019, Seward Peninsula, Alaska

Soil samples were collected coincident with in-situ soil moisture and thaw depth measurements at NGEE Arctic study sites on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska in August 2017 and 2019 Field measurements and flights were conducted during both summers as a collaboration between the NASA ABoVE Project's Airborne SAR Campaign and the NGEE Arctic Project. Airborne overflights of L-band SAR instruments occurred during the soil sampling periods. Laboratory measurements of soil properties include bulk density, volumetric and gravimetric water content, carbon and nitrogen content, and particle size of mineral components. Soil samples processed and reported in this dataset were collected coincident with in situ measurements of soil moisture and thaw depth and airborne P-band and L-band SAR measurements as a collaboration between NGEE Arctic and NASA ABoVE. To learn more about how ABoVE protocols were applied for sampling site selection and making in situ measurements, see the following datasets: (2017: https://doi.org/10.5440/1423892 and 2019: https://doi.org/10.5440/1856042). Contained in this dataset are four .csv data files (including data dictionaries) and one zipped folder of *.pdf files.The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort (with some overlap with Covid-19 pandemic) to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research. The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska.Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy's Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

In Situ Soil Moisture and Thaw Depth Measurements Coincident with Airborne SAR Data Collections, Seward Peninsula, Alaska, 2019

The in-situ soil moisture and thaw depth measurements provided in this dataset were collected coincident with airborne overflights of L- and P-band SAR instruments at the Teller and Kougarok NGEE Arctic study sites on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Field measurements and flights were conducted in August 2019 as a collaboration between the NASA ABoVE Project's Airborne SAR Campaign and the NGEE Arctic Project. ABoVE protocols for establishing field measurement plots were followed. NGEE Arctic plots for the ground-based measurements are located at existing study sites where SAR data would also add value to current monitoring and characterization efforts of the NGEE Team. The ground-based data will be used by ABoVE to analyze, calibrate and validate the remote sensing products. This dataset follows the format and collection guidelines of the collaboration effort in 2017. Contained in this dataset are *.csv (including data dictionaries), .zip, .kml, .jpgs, .py, and .pdf files.The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort (with some overlap with Covid-19 pandemic) to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research. The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska. Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy's Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Large emissions of CO2 and CH4 due to active-layer warming in Arctic tundra: Supporting Data

Climate warming may accelerate decomposition of Arctic soil carbon, but few controlled experiments have manipulated the entire active layer. To determine surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon dioxide and methane under anticipated end-of-century warming, we used heating rods to warm soil (by 3.8 °C) to the depth of permafrost in polygonal tundra over two growing seasons at the Barrow Environmental Observatory in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska. This data product includes supporting data for the companion paper entitled "Large emissions of CO2 and CH4 due to active-layer warming in Arctic tundra", published in Nature Communications by Torn et al. This data package contains seven data files in csv format with corresponding data dictionaries and file-level metadata, describing vegetation biomass dry weight ("Utqiagvik_Vegetation_Biomass_2014.csv"), radiocarbon measurements of respired carbon dioxide ("Utqiagvik_Radiocarbon_2015_2016.csv"), surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon dioxide and methane and associated soil temperature ("Utqiagvik_Fluxes_Temperature_2015_2016.csv"), and soil temperature measurements averaged every 15-min and 1-hr for 2015 and 2016 ("Utqiagvik_Temperature_15min_2015.csv", "Utqiagvik_Temperature_15min_2016.csv", "Utqiagvik_Temperature_1hr_2015.csv", "Utqiagvik_Temperature_1hr_2016.csv"). There are no specific software requirements to use these data. UIC Science Native Corporation facilitated our scientific research on the Barrow Environmental Observatory, which is Iñupiat land.The Next-Generation Ecosystem Experiments: Arctic (NGEE Arctic), was a research effort to reduce uncertainty in Earth System Models by developing a predictive understanding of carbon-rich Arctic ecosystems and feedbacks to climate. NGEE Arctic was supported by the Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research. The NGEE Arctic project had two field research sites: 1) located within the Arctic polygonal tundra coastal region on the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) and the North Slope near Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska and 2) multiple areas on the discontinuous permafrost region of the Seward Peninsula north of Nome, Alaska. Through observations, experiments, and synthesis with existing datasets, NGEE Arctic provided an enhanced knowledge base for multi-scale modeling and contributed to improved process representation at global pan-Arctic scales within the Department of Energy's Earth system Model (the Energy Exascale Earth System Model, or E3SM), and specifically within the E3SM Land Model component (ELM).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Large emissions of CO 2 and CH 4 due to active-layer warming in Arctic tundra

Climate warming may accelerate decomposition of Arctic soil carbon, but few controlled experiments have manipulated the entire active layer. To determine surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon dioxide and methane under anticipated end-of-century warming, here we used heating rods to warm (by 3.8 °C) to the depth of permafrost in polygonal tundra in $Utqia\dot{g}vik$ (formerly Barrow), Alaska and measured fluxes over two growing seasons. We show that ecosystem respiration is ~30% higher in warmed plots than in control plots (0.99 μmol m -2 s -1 versus 0.67 μmol m -2 s -1 , p < 0.0001, n = 79). Additionally, the observed temperature sensitivity (Q 10 of 2.8) is higher than that imposed for soil in Earth system models or reported by arctic experiments warming only the surface. A shoulder-season warming experiment revealed that rapid snow melt, which is becoming a more common event, can result in large methane emissions that may have otherwise been oxidized to carbon dioxide. Thus, warming promotes greenhouse gas emissions from the whole, deepening active layer and may contribute to climate change amplification.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Identification of highly active surface iron sites on Ni(OOH) for the oxygen evolution reaction by atomic layer deposition

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has become a versatile tool in catalysis, allowing for precise synthesis of catalysts useful for gaining fundamental understanding of complex systems. In this work, ALD was used to perform surface-directed modification of Ni(OH) 2 /Ni(OOH) electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to elucidate the different roles of iron as a surface dopant and as iron distributed throughout the NiOOH structure. Electrochemical and material characterization of FeO x ALD-modified Ni(OH) 2 indicates that iron is deposited on the surface of Ni(OH) 2 sheets without modifying its bulk properties. Sub-monolayer amounts of iron were deposited on the surface of Ni(OH) 2 using low cycle numbers of ALD. This surface iron results in high OER activity, characteristic of Ni-Fe(OOH) catalysts. Ni(OH) 2 /Ni(OOH) catalysts modified to incorporate iron throughout the structure were prepared by depositing large cycle numbers of FeO x ALD, which results in the deposition of a Fe 2 O 3 overlayer. Corrosion of this Fe 2 O 3 overlayer during electrochemical cycling in alkaline electrolyte leads to the incorporation of iron throughout the structure of Ni(OH) 2 /Ni(OOH) while leaving some Fe at the surface. Incorporation of iron throughout the Ni(OH) 2 /Ni(OOH) structure was found to increase OER geometric activity for thick, high surface area Ni(OH) 2 /Ni(OOH) catalysts. Lastly, NiFeO x electrocatalysts synthesized fully by ALD were investigated for the OER; these catalysts demonstrated high OER activity and potential for photocatalysis applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of electrochemical cycling on microstructures of nanocomposite silicon electrodes using hyperpolarized 129 Xe and 7 Li NMR spectroscopy

The microstructural stability of composite electrodes during electrochemical cycling is critically important as it dictates the performance of Li-ion batteries. The issue becomes even more important for the high capacity alloying anode such as silicon that typically exhibits dramatic lithiation–delithiation-induced volume changes. The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer formed on the active electrode surface has a profound effect on the overall microstructural stability of composite electrodes. An ideal SEI layer allows Li+ ions in and out of the electrode, but is an insulator to electrons, preventing the electrolyte from being further reduced. However, the SEI layers formed during initial lithiation may experience changes or degradation with subsequent cycling, adversely affecting the electrode performance. A combination of hyperpolarized 129 Xe and 7 Li nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies was applied to probe the microstructures of nanocomposite silicon electrodes at various stages of the lithiation–delithiation cycle. The results obtained from this study shed light on the degradation mechanism of nanocomposite Si electrodes upon electrochemical cycling and should prove useful in the effort to design more robust electrodes in the future.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Hourly temperature and surface water level at the Ikpikpuk delta from 5/2012 to 11/2012

This data package includes the soil temperature and surface water level observations in 2012 at the Ikpikpuk River delta in northern Alaska. The data file consists of the observation table with both the .xlsx and .csv file formats. The files can be accessed through several software tools, like Microsoft Excel, and text editors. This is raw data from the near-surface ground temperature sensors at 15 cm (active layer) and 100 cm (permafrost) soil depth and a surface water sensor at the Ikpikpuk delta site in Alaska, US. The Ikpikpuk River delta is located on the Arctic Coastal Plain of northern Alaska. The Ikpikpuk River drains a land area of 15,330 km2, emptying into Smith Bay, and the delta is fan-shaped with an aerial extent of 106 km2 (Fuchs et al., 2018). This dataset supports the publication entitled "The thermal response of permafrost to coastal floodplain flooding" submitted to Environmental Research Letters (under review), where the observed water level is used as the upper boundary condition for the model simulations and the observed subsurface temperature is compared with the model simulations to answer the question about how coastal flooding affects permafrost thaw.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Roll-to-roll solvent-free manufactured electrodes for fast-charging batteries

In response to the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), we demonstrate a solvent-free manufacturing technology that can avoid toxic organic solvents and form unique electrode structures to overcome the bottlenecks in low costs and fast charging. The lower tortuosity achieved by the open pores in the dry-printed (DP) electrode allows for a shorter Li+ diffusion pathway, which leads to better rate performance. The DP pouch cells exhibit higher capacity retention of 78% and 69% at 3C and 4C, respectively, compared with 67% and 52% for the slurry cast (SL) cells at the same rates. Moreover, the coating layer on the surface of active materials prevents the excess side reaction between active materials and electrolytes, which prolongs the cycle life of the DP cells. This manufacturing process is a roll-to-roll system with immense potential to be scaled up, providing a more efficient and economical way for battery manufacturing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High-temperature phonon-mediated superconductivity in monolayer Mg 2 B 4 C 2

A two-dimensional material – Mg 2 B 4 C 2 , belonging to the family of the conventional superconductor MgB 2 , is theoretically predicted to exhibit superconductivity with critical temperature T c estimated in the 47–48 K range (predicted using the McMillian-Allen-Dynes formula) without any tuning of external parameters such as doping, strain, or substrate-induced effects. The origin of such a high intrinsic T c is ascribed to the presence of strong electron-phonon coupling and large density of states at the Fermi level. This system is obtained after replacing the chemically active boron-boron surface layers in a MgB 2 slab by chemically inactive boron-carbon layers. Hence, the surfaces of this material are inert. Our calculations confirm the stability of 2D Mg 2 B 4 C 2 . We also find that the key features of this material remain essentially unchanged when its thickness is increased by modestly increasing the number of inner MgB 2 layers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Modeling the role of lateral surface flow in low‐relief polygonal tundra

Abstract Ice‐wedge polygon troughs play an important role in controlling the hydrology of low‐relief polygonal tundra regions. Lateral surface flow is confined to troughs only, but it is often neglected in model projections of permafrost thermal hydrology. Recent field and modeling studies have shown that, after rain events, increases in trough water levels are significantly more than the observed precipitation, highlighting the role of lateral surface flow in the polygonal tundra. Therefore, understanding how trough lateral surface flow can influence polygonal tundra thermal hydrology is important, especially under projected changes in temperatures and rainfall in the Arctic regions. Using an integrated cryohydrology model, this study presents plot‐scale end‐of‐century projections of ice‐wedge polygon water budget components and active layer thickness with and without trough lateral surface flow under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 scenario. Trough lateral surface flow is incorporated through a newly developed empirical model, evaluated against field measurements. The numerical scenario that includes trough lateral surface flow simulates discharge (outflow from a polygon) and recharge (rain‐induced inflow to a polygon trough from upslope areas), while the scenario that does not include trough lateral surface flow ignores recharge. The results show considerable reduction (about 100–150%) in evapotranspiration and discharge in rainy years in the scenarios ignoring trough lateral surface flow, but less effect on soil water storage, in comparison with the scenario with trough lateral surface flow. In addition, the results demonstrate long‐term changes (~10–15 cm increase) in active layer thickness when trough lateral surface flow is modeled. This study highlights the importance of including lateral surface flow processes to better understand the long‐term thermal and hydrological changes in low‐relief polygonal tundra regions under a changing climate.

Jan, Ahmad↗

Spatially Averaged Ice Contents of Ice-Wedge Polygon Cross-Sections to 3-m Depth, July 2013, Utqiagvik, Alaska

This dataset contains spatially averaged estimates of ice content (volume percent) for two-dimensional cross-sectional profiles (from trough center to trough center to a depth of 3 meters) of low- and flat-centered ice-wedge polygons (three of each type) located near Utqiagvik, Alaska. A combination of soil pits, trenches, and cores were used to describe, sample, and map the cross-section stratigraphy of soil horizons and ice wedges for each polygon at 6 depth intervals. Observed soil horizons were assigned to four types with increasing amounts of organic components (mineral, mineral/organic, organic/mineral, and organic). The average ice contents of each soil horizon type below the permafrost boundary and wedge ice were weighted by their cross-sectional area fractions to calculate spatially averaged estimates of ice content for each polygon. In the active layer, spatially averaged estimates of volumetric water contents were similarly determined and reported here as “ice” content to enable estimates of the soil’s structurally competent porosity and excess ice in permafrost layers. In this dataset, the file AK13_ice_contents.csv includes cross-sectional area fractions and spatially averaged ice contents for soil layers and horizon types at the six depth intervals. The file AK13_permafrost_ice_fractions.csv contains the calculated partitioning of ice contents into pore ice and excess ice fractions for the three permafrost-dominated depth intervals. In addition, there is a data dictionary file for each of these data files and a file-level metadata file. These data were generated by the Department of Energy’s Soil Carbon Response to Environmental Change Scientific Focus Area and were used as inputs to model simulations examining the consequences of thaw-affected subsidence and microtopography change on active layer thickness of low-relief polygonal tundra landscapes in a warming Arctic.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗