Resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processes

Geophysical methods are often used to characterize and monitor the subsurface composition of permafrost. The resolution capacity of standard methods, i.e. electrical resistivity tomography and refraction seismic tomography, depends not only on static parameters such as measurement geometry, but a...

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Main Authors: B. Mewes, C. Hilbich, R. Delaloye, C. Hauck
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2017-12-01
Series:The Cryosphere
Online Access:https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2957/2017/tc-11-2957-2017.pdf
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author B. Mewes
C. Hilbich
R. Delaloye
C. Hauck
author_facet B. Mewes
C. Hilbich
R. Delaloye
C. Hauck
author_sort B. Mewes
collection DOAJ
description Geophysical methods are often used to characterize and monitor the subsurface composition of permafrost. The resolution capacity of standard methods, i.e. electrical resistivity tomography and refraction seismic tomography, depends not only on static parameters such as measurement geometry, but also on the temporal variability in the contrast of the geophysical target variables (electrical resistivity and P-wave velocity). Our study analyses the resolution capacity of electrical resistivity tomography and refraction seismic tomography for typical processes in the context of permafrost degradation using synthetic and field data sets of mountain permafrost terrain. In addition, we tested the resolution capacity of a petrophysically based quantitative combination of both methods, the so-called 4-phase model, and through this analysed the expected changes in water and ice content upon permafrost thaw. The results from the synthetic data experiments suggest a higher sensitivity regarding an increase in water content compared to a decrease in ice content. A potentially larger uncertainty originates from the individual geophysical methods than from the combined evaluation with the 4-phase model. In the latter, a loss of ground ice can be detected quite reliably, whereas artefacts occur in the case of increased horizontal or vertical water flow. Analysis of field data from a well-investigated rock glacier in the Swiss Alps successfully visualized the seasonal ice loss in summer and the complex spatially variable ice, water and air content changes in an interannual comparison.
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spelling doaj.art-443cb6c981cf4d2f9d206719b3b3b1432022-12-22T03:30:15ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242017-12-01112957297410.5194/tc-11-2957-2017Resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processesB. Mewes0C. Hilbich1R. Delaloye2C. Hauck3Institute of Hydrology, Water Resources Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, 44801, GermanyDepartment of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, 1700, SwitzerlandDepartment of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, 1700, SwitzerlandDepartment of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, 1700, SwitzerlandGeophysical methods are often used to characterize and monitor the subsurface composition of permafrost. The resolution capacity of standard methods, i.e. electrical resistivity tomography and refraction seismic tomography, depends not only on static parameters such as measurement geometry, but also on the temporal variability in the contrast of the geophysical target variables (electrical resistivity and P-wave velocity). Our study analyses the resolution capacity of electrical resistivity tomography and refraction seismic tomography for typical processes in the context of permafrost degradation using synthetic and field data sets of mountain permafrost terrain. In addition, we tested the resolution capacity of a petrophysically based quantitative combination of both methods, the so-called 4-phase model, and through this analysed the expected changes in water and ice content upon permafrost thaw. The results from the synthetic data experiments suggest a higher sensitivity regarding an increase in water content compared to a decrease in ice content. A potentially larger uncertainty originates from the individual geophysical methods than from the combined evaluation with the 4-phase model. In the latter, a loss of ground ice can be detected quite reliably, whereas artefacts occur in the case of increased horizontal or vertical water flow. Analysis of field data from a well-investigated rock glacier in the Swiss Alps successfully visualized the seasonal ice loss in summer and the complex spatially variable ice, water and air content changes in an interannual comparison.https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2957/2017/tc-11-2957-2017.pdf
spellingShingle B. Mewes
C. Hilbich
R. Delaloye
C. Hauck
Resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processes
The Cryosphere
title Resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processes
title_full Resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processes
title_fullStr Resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processes
title_full_unstemmed Resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processes
title_short Resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processes
title_sort resolution capacity of geophysical monitoring regarding permafrost degradation induced by hydrological processes
url https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/2957/2017/tc-11-2957-2017.pdf
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AT chauck resolutioncapacityofgeophysicalmonitoringregardingpermafrostdegradationinducedbyhydrologicalprocesses