Where is the permafrost? High-resolution 3D imaging of permafrost and ground ice in the Canadian Arctic

Permafrost degradation and thawing is an important indicator of climate change that impacts the geomorphology, eco-systems, and infrastructure of the Canadian Arctic. Ground ice is a common constituent of permafrost and a key driver of permafrost thawing. However, the formation of ground ice is complex, and its origins and distribution are unpredictable and poorly understood, e.g. over short distances volumetric ice content can vary from near zero to pure ice with little change visible on the ground surface.

This research project will use data from two complementary geophysical tools - Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and passive seismic - to map the spatial and temporal variation of ground ice at three different coastal locations in the Canadian Arctic. It will process and analyse densely acquired GPR data to create, for the first time, high-resolution three-dimensional maps showing the spatial distributions of ground ice.

Passive seismic and ground truth data will augment and verify GPR measurements, and numerical modelling will be carried out, using the open-source software gprMax (www.gprmax.com), to enable detailed interpretation of the GPR data and reveal the structure and composition of the ground ice. The outcomes from this project will provide new knowledge on permafrost and ground ice geomorphology, which will be critical in informing indigenous communities on the coastal erosion and changes to their landscapes.