Landsat-based lake distribution and changes in western Alaska permafrost regions between the 1970s and 2010s

Abstract Lakes are an important ecosystem component and geomorphological agent in northern high latitudes it is to understand how lake initiation, expansion drainage may change as continue warm. In this study, we utilized Landsat Multispectral Scanner System images from the 1970s (1972, 1974, 1975) Operational Land Imager 2010s (2013, 2014, 2015) assess broad-scale distribution changes of lakes larger than 1 ha across four permafrost zones (continuous, discontinuous, sporadic, isolated extent) western Alaska. Across our 68 000 km 2 study area, saw a decline overall coverage all with exception sporadic zone. continuous zone area declined by ?6.7% (?65.3 ), discontinuous ?1.6% (?55.0 ?6.9% (?31.5 ) while cover increased 2.7% (117.2 Overall, observed net 10 region. Partial these medium large created increase covered small water bodies <10 ha, form remnant ponds 7.1% (12.6 permafrost, 2.5% (15.5 14.4% (74.6 10.4% (17.2 permafrost. general, observations indicate that Alaska occurring parallel. As climate continues warm thaw, expect number events region leading formation higher numbers lakes.