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