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Application of ground‐penetrating radar imagery for three‐dimensional visualisation of near‐surface structures in ice‐rich permafrost, Barrow, Alaska
Author(s) -
Munroe Jeffrey S.,
Doolittle Jim A.,
Kanevskiy Mikhail Z.,
Hinkel Kenneth M.,
Nelson Frederick E.,
Jones Benjamin M.,
Shur Yuri,
Kimble John M.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
permafrost and periglacial processes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1099-1530
pISSN - 1045-6740
DOI - 10.1002/ppp.594
Subject(s) - permafrost , ground penetrating radar , geology , geomorphology , thermokarst , active layer , frost heaving , remote sensing , radar , physical geography , oceanography , layer (electronics) , telecommunications , chemistry , organic chemistry , computer science , geography , thin film transistor
Three‐dimensional ground‐penetrating radar (3D GPR) was used to investigate the subsurface structure of ice‐wedge polygons and other features of the frozen active layer and near‐surface permafrost near Barrow, Alaska. Surveys were conducted at three sites located on landscapes of different geomorphic age. At each site, sediment cores were collected and characterised to aid interpretation of GPR data. At two sites, 3D GPR was able to delineate subsurface ice‐wedge networks with high fidelity. Three‐dimensional GPR data also revealed a fundamental difference in ice‐wedge morphology between these two sites that is consistent with differences in landscape age. At a third site, the combination of two‐dimensional and 3D GPR revealed the location of an active frost boil with ataxitic cryostructure. When supplemented by analysis of soil cores, 3D GPR offers considerable potential for imaging, interpreting and 3D mapping of near‐surface soil and ice structures in permafrost environments. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.