On this evening off, a couple of new friends and I went to visit a nearby aufeis formation leaving from Toolik Camp.
Aufeis
Aufeis Wall. Photo by DJ Kast
Aufeis is a sheet of ice that forms through the layering of frozen groundwater flows.
Aerial Aufeis view. Photo by DJ Kast
Aufeis top view. Photo by DJ Kast
In German, aufeis means "Ice on Top" and are also known as river icings.
Aufeis means Ice on top and can be several meters thick, see lego figure for scale. Photo by DJ Kast
Ground-water discharge is blocked by ice, and causes a small rises in the local water sources until discharge occurs along the bank and over the top of the previously formed ice. This pattern creates striations or layers of ice.
You can see some of the ice layering that makes up aufeis. Photo by DJ Kast
Arctic Lego explorer gazing in awe of the aufeis. Photo by DJ Kast
These successive ice layering can lead to aufeis structures that are several meters thick.
Sarah W. on the hill on top of the aufeis near Toolik. Photo by DJ Kast
Aufeis typically melts out during summer and will often form in the same place year after year.
During the summer months, the aufeis melts but will most likely reform in the same place next year. Photo by DJ Kast
The presence of aufeis on a river has large implications on the season flow patterns since the water melts during the summer.
Aufeises are oasis and sources of liquid water during the winter.
USC and YSP Flags on Aufeis
On top of the Aufeis with Mr. Silvetri's fourth grade class's polar flag from Norwood Elementary (YSP TA Evelyn Lee).
Representing the Aufeis with 32nd Street Schools flag from Ms. Wong's fifth grade classroom (YSP TA- Anna Duan) Photo by DJ Kast
USC Flag Represent! Look at that aufeis stratification! Photo by DJ Kast
USC Flag on top of the aufeis! Photo by DJ Kast
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