Defrosting sedimentary systems: the impacts on the evolution and material transport of seasonally frozen high-latitude rivers

The polar region is warming faster than any other region on Earth. However, a thorough understanding of the impacts on northern seasonally ice-covered rivers is presently lacking. The project aims to determine the impacts of defrosting sedimentary systems on these rivers (Pulmanki & Koita/FI; Sävar/SWE), and on their seasonal river ice and hydro-morphodynamics (vertical/lateral erosion), and ultimately determine the present and future watershed scale total sediment delivery. The project produces mechanistic understanding of the long-term river dynamics by integrating unique field data, novel chilled flume experiments, remote sensing and new numerical model approaches. The new theories and future forecasts of seasonal river dynamics and their impacts on societies and ecosystems in cold climate region provide information for decision making, environmental protection, building of infrastructure and sustaining a safe and sustainable society.