Permafrost and Seasonally Frozen Ground - Capabilities and Requirements (from IGOS Cryosphere Theme Report)
Parameter |
C T O |
Measurement Range |
Accuracy |
Resolution |
Comment / Principal Driver |
||||||
L |
H |
U |
V |
U |
Spatial |
Temporal |
|||||
V |
U |
V |
U |
||||||||
Permafrost* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Permafrost thermal state |
C |
-20 |
0 |
0C |
0.05 |
K |
Vertical profile |
1 |
a |
Key parameter of the GTN-P; in situ measurements; (annual upper 20-100 m; deeper 5 a) |
|
T |
-20 |
0 |
0C |
0.01 |
K |
1 |
a |
||||
O |
-20 |
0 |
0C |
0.01 |
K |
1 |
a |
||||
Permafrost thickness |
C |
0 |
1600 |
m |
1 |
m |
Point |
10-100 |
a |
Measured or interpolated from temperature profiles; inferred from geophysical logs or surface surveys; modeled parameter |
|
T |
0 |
1600 |
m |
0.5 |
m |
10 |
a |
||||
O |
0 |
1600 |
m |
0.5 |
m |
10 |
a |
||||
Permafrost distribution (continental) |
C |
0 |
100 |
% |
|
% |
10 |
km |
10 |
a |
inferred from ground temperatures, photo terrain interpretation, geophysics |
T |
0 |
100 |
% |
2 |
% |
1 |
km |
10 |
a |
||
O |
0 |
100 |
% |
1 |
% |
1 |
km |
1 |
a |
||
Permafrost distribution (mountain) |
C |
0 |
100 |
% |
|
% |
25 |
m |
1 |
a |
Distributed models, based on DEM, calibrated with BTS; distribution based on elevation (m) |
T |
0 |
100 |
% |
2 |
% |
25 |
m |
1 |
a |
||
O |
0 |
100 |
% |
1 |
% |
25 |
m |
1 |
a |
||
Downslope velocity of creeping permafrost
|
C |
0.01 |
15 |
m / yr |
1 |
cm |
Point |
1 |
a |
Survey transects, repeat high-resolution imagery, radar, InSAR |
|
T |
0.01 |
15 |
m / yr |
1 |
cm |
10 |
m |
1 |
a |
Same; InSAR |
|
O |
0.01 |
15 |
m / yr |
1 |
cm |
10 |
m |
1 |
a |
Same; InSAR |
|
Annual surface elevation change |
C |
0 |
1 |
m |
1 |
cm |
Point |
1 |
a |
In situ survey transects, LIDAR maps, InSAR |
|
T |
0 |
1 |
m |
1 |
cm |
10 |
m |
1 |
a |
||
O |
0 |
1 |
m |
1 |
cm |
1 |
m |
1 |
a |
||
Ground ice volume |
C |
0 |
100 |
Vol % |
5-10 |
Vol % |
Point |
One time |
In situ measurements (sampling during borehole drilling) |
||
T |
0 |
100 |
Vol % |
5 |
Vol % |
1 |
m |
Geophysical investigations |
|||
O |
0 |
100 |
Vol % |
5 |
Vol % |
0.1 |
m |
||||
Active Layer* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Areas underlain by permafrost |
Active layer depth |
C |
0 |
5 |
m |
1 |
cm |
Point |
1 |
a |
In situ measurements (maximum value at end of summer, key GTN-P parameter) |
|
T |
0 |
5 |
m |
1 |
cm |
7 |
d |
||||
O |
0 |
5 |
m |
1 |
cm |
7 |
d |
||||
Soil temperature** |
C |
-60 |
35 |
0C |
0.1 |
K |
Vertical profile |
1 |
d |
10 cm interval to 1.2m on data recorder; GTOS TEM parameter |
|
T |
-60 |
35 |
0C |
0.05 |
K |
6 |
h |
||||
O |
-60 |
35 |
0C |
0.05 |
K |
6 |
h |
||||
Surface temperature |
C |
-70 |
45 |
0C |
1 |
K |
1 |
km |
1 |
d |
MODIS |
T |
-70 |
45 |
0C |
1 |
K |
100 |
m |
1 |
d |
|
|
O |
-70 |
45 |
0C |
1 |
K |
10 |
m |
0.5 |
d |
||
Soil moisture** |
C |
0 |
|
Vol % |
1-5 |
Vol % |
Point |
1 |
d |
Monitored continuously at some locations, or based on sampling during drilling or soil pits; GTOS TEM parameter |
|
T |
0 |
|
Vol % |
1-5 |
Vol % |
1 |
m |
Same; SAR |
|||
O |
0 |
|
Vol % |
1-5 |
Vol % |
0.1 |
m |
Same; SAR |
|||
Duration of thaw |
C |
0 |
365 |
days |
14 |
d |
Point |
1 |
d |
Computed from weather records and inferred or measured from soil temperatures; sequential microwave |
|
T |
0 |
365 |
days |
7 |
d |
1 |
km |
||||
O |
0 |
365 |
days |
7 |
d |
100 |
m |
||||
Seasonal frost heave / thaw subsidence |
C |
0 |
100 |
cm |
1 |
cm |
Point |
0.5 |
a |
In situ survey transects, LIDAR maps, InSAR
|
|
T |
0 |
100 |
cm |
1 |
cm |
10 |
cm |
||||
O |
0 |
100 |
cm |
1 |
cm |
1 |
cm |
||||
Seasonally Frozen Ground* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Areas not underlain by permafrost and beyond limits of permafrost |
Onset of seasonal freezing |
C |
0 |
365 |
days |
14 |
d |
Point |
14 |
d |
determined from interpolation of soil temperature profiles or frost tubes; passive microwave |
|
T |
0 |
365 |
days |
7 |
d |
1 |
km |
7 |
d |
||
O |
0 |
365 |
days |
7 |
d |
100 |
m |
7 |
d |
||
Depth of seasonal freezing |
C |
0 |
4 |
m |
1 |
cm |
Point |
1 |
a |
Determined from interpolation of soil temperature profiles or frost tubes; passive microwave |
|
T |
0 |
4 |
m |
1 |
cm |
7 |
d |
||||
O |
0 |
4 |
m |
1 |
cm |
7 |
d |
||||
Duration of freeze
|
C |
0 |
365 |
days |
14 |
d |
Point |
1 |
d |
Computed from weather records and inferred or measured from soil temperatures; sequential microwave |
|
T |
0 |
365 |
days |
7 |
d |
1 |
km |
||||
O |
0 |
365 |
days |
7 |
d |
100 |
m |
||||
Distribution of seasonal freezing
|
C |
0 |
100 |
% |
|
% |
25 |
km |
5 |
d |
Microwave (passive and active) sensors at regional scale; sequential microwave |
T |
0 |
100 |
% |
|
% |
10 |
km |
||||
O |
0 |
100 |
% |
|
% |
1 |
km |
||||
Coastal Dynamics |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coastal retreat |
C |
0 |
30 |
m / yr |
0.5 |
m / yr |
Point |
1 |
a |
Ground surveys, DGPS, aerial photos, high-resolution satellite imagery, InSAR |
|
T |
0 |
30 |
m / yr |
0.25 |
m / yr |
0.25 |
m |
||||
O |
0 |
30 |
m / yr |
0.25 |
m / yr |
0.25 |
m |
||||
Isostatic vertical motion |
C |
0 |
15 |
cm / yr |
1 |
mm |
Point |
1 |
a |
DGPS |
|
T |
0 |
15 |
cm / yr |
1 |
mm |
1 |
km |
DGPS, LIDAR, Laser Altimetry, InSAR |
|||
O |
0 |
15 |
cm / yr |
1 |
mm |
1 |
km |
||||
Wind speed and direction |
C |
0 |
|
m / s |
0.1 |
m / s |
Point |
1 |
min |
Anemometer |
|
T |
0 |
|
m / s |
0.1 |
m / s |
||||||
O |
0 |
|
m / s |
0.1 |
m / s |
||||||
Storm surge |
C |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
NA |
|
NA |
T |
|
|
|
|
|
25 |
m |
1 |
d |
Time-lapse camera, tide gauge, Opportunistic SAR |
|
O |
|
|
|
|
|
25 |
m |
1 |
h |
||
Sediment transport |
C |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
|
NA |
|
NA |
T |
|
|
|
|
|
250 |
m |
7 |
d |
MODIS |
|
O |
|
|
|
|
|
250 |
m |
1 |
d |
||
Sea ice extent |
see Sea Ice table |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Ice scouring depth |
C |
|
|
cm |
10 |
cm |
|
m |
|
|
Multi-beam sonar |
T |
|
|
|
10 |
cm |
|
m |
|
|
||
O |
|
|
|
10 |
cm |
|
m |
|
|
||
Ice scouring area |
C |
0 |
100 |
% |
20 |
% |
10 |
m |
|
|
Multi-beam sonar |
T |
0 |
100 |
% |
10 |
% |
1 |
m |
|
|
||
O |
0 |
100 |
% |
10 |
% |
1 |
m |
|
|
||
Subsea permafrost distribution |
C |
0 |
100 |
% |
|
% |
10 |
km |
10 |
a |
Boreholes, multibeam sonar, shallow seismic |
T |
0 |
100 |
% |
|
% |
1 |
km |
10 |
a |
||
O |
0 |
100 |
% |
|
% |
1 |
km |
1 |
a |
||
Subsea permafrost thickness |
C |
0 |
500 |
m |
1 |
m |
Point |
10-100 |
a |
Boreholes, multibeam sonar, shallow seismic |
|
T |
0 |
500 |
m |
1 |
m |
10 |
a |
||||
O |
0 |
500 |
m |
1 |
m |
10 |
a |
* includes all aspects of snow cover.
** applies also to seasonally frozen ground
Codes are as follows: C = Current Capability, T = Threshold Requirement (Minimum necessary), O= Objective Requirement (Target), L = Low end of measurement range, U = Unit, H = High end of measurement range, V = Value, cl = climate, op = operational.