Geomorphic Process Studies Related to Climate Change in Kärkevagge, Northern Sweden—Status of Current Research

ABSTRACT

Modelled future, green-house gas induced, climate change is likely to affect the frequency and intensity of geomorphic processes. As the projected warming is more pronounced at higher latitudes the potential impact on arctic/alpine environments may be considerable. Previous comprehensive process and sediment budget studies can provide “base-line” information for comparisons with current and future process rates. Future studies need to be sustained over longer time, ideally within official environmental monitoring programs. Methodologically, future studies ought to be standardized, preferably on an international level, as to allow between site comparisons.

From a Swedish perspective, Rapp's (1960) work in Kärkevagge, northern Sweden, provide an obvious focus for this type of study. We summarize current research with the aim to: replicate older experiments, establish new representative experiments, gain a better understanding (through automatic meteorological and hydrological recordings) of how local climate conditions in the valley affect various processes and, finally, to make a new sediment budget for the catchment. A new photogrammetric topographic base-map (attached) has been produced (Kärkevagge Catchment Map 1993).