Hydrogeomorphology of patchy wetlands in the high arctic, polar desert environment

Patchy wetlands are commonly found in the polar desert at localities where ample water supply is available during the thawed season. These wetlands can occur on a wide range of topography, and they support more luxuriant vegetation than their surrounding areas. Snowbank wetlands are characterized by a zonation of vegetation, with increasingly rich plant coverage away from the snowbed edge. Ground-water wetlands usually occupy topographic …