Response of Soil Moisture Change to Hydrological Processes in a Continuous Permafrost Environment

The moisture content of the active layer at three sites in a continuous permafrost area was measured using a twin-probe gamma density meter. The moisture storage status at these sites were related to various hydrological processes. Moisture was gained by meltwater and rainfall infiltration, but lost to evaporation in summer. Lateral inflow maintained a thick saturated zone at the fen (wetland) site. At the gravel site, there was a net moisture loss due to evaporation and lateral outflow. Moisture changes in the active layer during the summer were examined in terms of the water balance at the three sites. This established quantitative relationships between the moisture regime and the major hydrological processes in the permafrost environment.