Using Ground Penetrating Radar to estimate active layer moisture conditions in the Arctic

Guisella Gacitúa, Mikkel Peter Tamstorf, Lee Slater

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polar regions, especially the Arctic, are expected to experience the largest changes in climate parameters during the coming decades, as well as increased variability. Large amounts of carbon currently stored in the arctic permafrost are expected to be released when a larger portion of the upper permafrost thaws. This will result in a deepening of the active layer, the region above the permafrost that freezes and thaws annually. Changes in this layer is thus important not only as an indicator of climate change, but also because they will alter the conditions for the vegetation and hence the ecosystem. A climate etTects monitoring programme in the Zackenberg valley in the continuous permafrost zone of Northeast Greenland, has since 1995 monitored the thawing of the active layer using manual probes. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), a noninvasive technique that provides continuous data on the subsurface, has been widely utilized in geosciences applications and implementation of this technique in Zackenberg can greatly enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of active layer monitoring. Hence, supplying additional knowledge of the changes in the active layer and the processes involved. This paper reports a preliminary analysis of data from a pilot project that focused on the interactions between the snow, soil and vegetation. In 2009, a GPR signal at 500 MHz was used to identify the active layer depth and to assess moisture conditions (0) along a gradient of five ditTerent soil and vegetation types. The results suggest that ditTerences in returning radar velocity can be used to estimate variations in moisture content in the active layer.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 13th Internarional Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, GPR 2010
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
Event13th Internarional Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, GPR 2010 - Lecce, Italy
Duration: Jun 21 2010Jun 25 2010

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 13th Internarional Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, GPR 2010

Other

Other13th Internarional Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, GPR 2010
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityLecce
Period6/21/106/25/10

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications
  • Communication

Keywords

  • Component
  • GPR Active layer Moisture content

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