Mapping Permafrost Variability and Degradation Using Seismic Surface Waves, Electrical Resistivity, and Temperature Sensing: A Case Study in Arctic Alaska

Tourei, Ahmad; Ji, Xiaohang; dos Santos, Gabriel Rocha; Czarny, Rafal; Rybakov, Sergei; Wang, Ziyi; Hallissey, Matthew; Martin, Eileen R.; Xiao, Ming; Zhu, Tieyuan; Nicolsky, Dmitry; Jensen, Anne

doi:10.1029/2023jf007352

Title: Mapping Permafrost Variability and Degradation Using Seismic Surface Waves, Electrical Resistivity, and Temperature Sensing: A Case Study in Arctic Alaska

Journal Article · 15 March 2024 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Earth Surface

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2023jf007352 · OSTI ID:2324613

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Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
Pennsylvania State Univ., State College, PA (United States)
Geophysical Institute University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks AK USA
Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States); Tomsk State Univ. (Russia)
Univ. of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK (United States)

Subsurface processes significantly influence surface dynamics in permafrost regions, necessitating utilizing diverse geophysical methods to reliably constrain permafrost characteristics. This research uses multiple geophysical techniques to explore the spatial variability of permafrost in undisturbed tundra and its degradation in disturbed tundra in Utqiagvik, Alaska. Here, we integrate multiple quantitative techniques, including multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and ground temperature sensing, to study heterogeneity in permafrost’s geophysical characteristics. MASW results reveal active layer shear wave velocities (V_s) between 240 and 370 m/s, and permafrost V_s between 450 and 1,700 m/s, typically showing a low-high-low velocity pattern. Additionally, we find an inverse relationship between in situ V_s and ground temperature measurements. The V_s profiles along with electrical resistivity profiles reveal cryostructures such as cryopeg and ice-rich zones in the permafrost layer. The integrated results of MASW and ERT provide valuable information for characterizing permafrost heterogeneity and cryostructure. Corroboration of these geophysical observations with permafrost core samples’ stratigraphies and salinity measurements further validates these findings. This combination of geophysical and temperature sensing methods along with permafrost core sampling confirms a robust approach for assessing permafrost’s spatial variability in coastal environments. Our results also indicate that civil infrastructure systems such as gravel roads and pile foundations affect permafrost by thickening the active layer, lowering the V_s, and reducing heterogeneity. We show how the resulting V_s profiles can be used to estimate key parameters for designing buildings in permafrost regions and maintaining existing infrastructure in polar regions.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Data Center

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); National Science Foundation (NSF)

Contributing Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL); Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830; CMMI‐2034363; CMMI‐2034366; CMMI‐2034380; ICER‐1927718

OSTI ID:: 2324613

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Earth Surface, Vol. 129, Issue 3; ISSN 2169-9003

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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