Impacts of shrub removal on snow and near-surface thermal conditions in permafrost terrain adjacent to the Dempster Highway, NT, Canada

The Peel Plateau, NT, Canada, is underlain by warm continuous permafrost where changes in soil moisture, snow conditions, and shrub density have increased ground temperatures next to the Dempster Highway. In this study, temperatures, snow, thaw depth were monitored before after tall removal (2014). A survey indicated that decreased a third lowered winter when compared with control sites. response of depended on type. site organic soils had cooler no apparent change summer following removal. At sites mineral soil, moderate cooling insufficiently counteracted increases heat flux caused canopy Given predominance along Dempster, these observations suggest not viable short-term management strategy. Additionally, perpendicular orientation Highway predominant winds stimulates drift formation predisposes warmer altered hydrology, proliferation. Subsequent research should explore effectiveness at colder conditions or different accumulation patterns.