Research Article

Profiles of temporal thaw depths beneath two arctic stream types using ground-penetrating radar

  1. Troy R. Brosten1,*,
  2. John H. Bradford1,
  3. James P. McNamara1,
  4. Jay P. Zarnetske2,
  5. Michael N. Gooseff3,
  6. W. Breck Bowden4

Article first published online: 29 NOV 2006

DOI: 10.1002/ppp.566

Issue

Permafrost and Periglacial Processes

Permafrost and Periglacial Processes

Volume 17, Issue 4, pages 341–355, October/December 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Brosten, T. R., Bradford, J. H., McNamara, J. P., Zarnetske, J. P., Gooseff, M. N. and Bowden, W. B. (2006), Profiles of temporal thaw depths beneath two arctic stream types using ground-penetrating radar. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 17: 341–355. doi: 10.1002/ppp.566

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA

  2. 2

    Department of Aquatic, Watershed, & Earth Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

  3. 3

    Department of Geology & Geological Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA

  4. 4

    Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA

*Department of Geosciences, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 29 NOV 2006
  2. Article first published online: 29 NOV 2006
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 15 SEP 2006
  4. Manuscript Revised: 13 SEP 2006
  5. Manuscript Received: 23 FEB 2006

Funded by

  • US National Science Foundation. Grant Number: OPP 03-27440
  • Department of Geosciences, Boise State University

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Keywords:

  • ground-penetrating radar;
  • permafrost;
  • thaw bulb;
  • arctic streams

Abstract

Thaw depths beneath arctic streams may have significant impact on the seasonal development of hyporheic zone hydraulics. To investigate thaw progression over the 2004 summer season we acquired a series of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) profiles at five sites from May–September, using 100, 200 and 400 MHz antennas. We selected sites with the objective of including stream reaches that span a range of geomorphologic conditions on Alaska's North Slope. Thaw depths interpreted from GPR data were constrained by both recorded subsurface temperature profiles and by pressing a metal probe through the active layer to the point of refusal. We found that low-energy stream environments react much more slowly to seasonal solar input and maintain thaw thicknesses longer throughout the late season whereas thaw depths increase rapidly within high-energy streams at the beginning of the season and decrease over the late season period. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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