Project Profiles: Steven M. Jepsen

Project Title: Understanding the Physical Properties and Dynamics of Permafrost: An Important Link Among Changes in Climate, Hydrology, and the Ecology of Northern High Latitudes
Mendenhall Fellow: Steven M. Jepsen, (303) 236-4150, sjepsen@usgs.gov
Duty Station: Denver, CO
Start Date: March 29, 2010
Education:Ph.D. Engineering-Applied Mechanics, Montana State University-Bozeman, 2005
Research Advisors: Michelle A. Walvoord, (303) 236-4998, walvoord@usgs.gov; Cliff I. Voss, (703) 648-5885, cvoss@usgs.gov

Project Description: The thawing of permafrost across northern high latitude regions is expected to alter water run-off and infiltration processes, in turn influencing surface water distribution, nutrient cycling, ecosystem processes, and ground fluxes of greenhouse gases. The interaction of permafrost thaw and groundwater flow is thought to play a key role in these processes. The goal of this study is to analyze how permafrost thaw under variable climate will influence groundwater fluxes in the vicinity of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska, a region of discontinuous permafrost. The tools of this study include a coupled groundwater and energy transport model with freezing, SUTRA-ICE, and field work in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska, including geophysical surveys and ground measurements of parameters including temperature and soil moisture.

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Last modified: 16:08:29 Thu 13 Dec 2012

Project Title: Understanding the Physical Properties and Dynamics of Permafrost: An Important Link Among Changes in Climate, Hydrology, and the Ecology of Northern High Latitudes Mendenhall Fellow: Steven M. Jepsen, (303) 236-4150, sjepsen@usgs.gov Duty Station: Denver, CO Start Date: March 29, 2010 Education:Ph.D. Engineering-Applied Mechanics, Montana State University-Bozeman, 2005 Research Advisors: Michelle A. Walvoord, (303) 236-4998, walvoord@usgs.gov; Cliff I. Voss, (703) 648-5885, cvoss@usgs.gov
Project Description: The thawing of permafrost across northern high latitude regions is expected to alter water run-off and infiltration processes, in turn influencing surface water distribution, nutrient cycling, ecosystem processes, and ground fluxes of greenhouse gases. The interaction of permafrost thaw and groundwater flow is thought to play a key role in these processes. The goal of this study is to analyze how permafrost thaw under variable climate will influence groundwater fluxes in the vicinity of the Yukon River Basin, Alaska, a region of discontinuous permafrost. The tools of this study include a coupled groundwater and energy transport model with freezing, SUTRA-ICE, and field work in the Yukon River Basin, Alaska, including geophysical surveys and ground measurements of parameters including temperature and soil moisture.