High-resolution 4D electrical resistivity tomography and below-ground point sensor monitoring of High Arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero-curtain effects, freeze–thaw transitions, and mid-winter thawing
<p>Arctic regions are under immense pressure from a continuously warming climate. During the winter and shoulder seasons, recently deglaciated sediments are particularly sensitive to human-induced warming. Understanding the physical mechanisms and processes that determine soil liquid moisture...
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Copernicus Publications
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Cryosphere |
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| author | M. O. Cimpoiasu O. Kuras H. Harrison P. B. Wilkinson P. Meldrum J. E. Chambers D. Liljestrand C. Oroza S. K. Schmidt P. Sommers L. Vimercati T. P. Irons Z. Lyu A. Solon J. A. Bradley J. A. Bradley |
| author_facet | M. O. Cimpoiasu O. Kuras H. Harrison P. B. Wilkinson P. Meldrum J. E. Chambers D. Liljestrand C. Oroza S. K. Schmidt P. Sommers L. Vimercati T. P. Irons Z. Lyu A. Solon J. A. Bradley J. A. Bradley |
| author_sort | M. O. Cimpoiasu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Arctic regions are under immense pressure from a continuously warming climate. During the winter and shoulder seasons, recently deglaciated sediments are particularly sensitive to human-induced warming. Understanding the physical mechanisms and processes that determine soil liquid moisture availability contributes to the way we conceptualize and understand the development and functioning of terrestrial Arctic ecosystems. However, harsh weather and logistical constraints limit opportunities to directly observe subsurface processes year-round; hence automated and uninterrupted strategies of monitoring the coupled heat and water movement in soils are essential. Geoelectrical monitoring using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has proven to be an effective method to capture soil moisture distribution in time and space. ERT instrumentation has been adapted for year-round operation in high-latitude weather conditions. We installed two geoelectrical monitoring stations on the forefield of a retreating glacier in Svalbard, consisting of semi-permanent surface ERT arrays and co-located soil sensors, which track seasonal changes in soil electrical resistivity, moisture, and temperature in 3D. One of the stations observes recently exposed sediments (5–10 years since deglaciation), whilst the other covers more established sediments (50–60 years since deglaciation). We obtained a 1-year continuous measurement record (October 2021–September 2022), which produced 4D images of soil freeze–thaw transitions with unprecedented detail, allowing us to calculate the velocity of the thawing front in 3D. At its peak, this was found to be 1 m d<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> for the older sediments and 0.4 m d<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> for the younger sediments. Records of soil moisture and thermal regime obtained by sensors help define the conditions under which snowmelt takes place. Our data reveal that the freeze–thaw shoulder period, during which the surface soils experienced the zero-curtain effect, lasted 23 d at the site closer to the glacier but only 6 d for the older sediments. Furthermore, we used unsupervised clustering to classify areas of the soil volume according to their electrical resistivity coefficient of variance, which enables us to understand spatial variations in susceptibility to water-phase transition. Novel insights into soil moisture dynamics throughout the spring melt will help parameterize models of biological activity to build a more predictive understanding of newly emerging terrestrial landscapes and their impact on carbon and nutrient cycling.</p> |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cd304dd655b04706b652f8ec9a04b984 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1994-0416 1994-0424 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
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| series | The Cryosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-cd304dd655b04706b652f8ec9a04b9842025-01-29T05:41:58ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242025-01-011940142110.5194/tc-19-401-2025High-resolution 4D electrical resistivity tomography and below-ground point sensor monitoring of High Arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero-curtain effects, freeze–thaw transitions, and mid-winter thawingM. O. Cimpoiasu0O. Kuras1H. Harrison2P. B. Wilkinson3P. Meldrum4J. E. Chambers5D. Liljestrand6C. Oroza7S. K. Schmidt8P. Sommers9L. Vimercati10T. P. Irons11Z. Lyu12A. Solon13J. A. Bradley14J. A. Bradley15Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, United KingdomEnvironmental and Engineering Geophysics, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, United KingdomEnvironmental and Engineering Geophysics, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, United KingdomEnvironmental and Engineering Geophysics, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, United KingdomEnvironmental and Engineering Geophysics, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, United KingdomEnvironmental and Engineering Geophysics, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, United KingdomDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of AmericaDepartment of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of AmericaEcology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of AmericaEcology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of AmericaEcology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of AmericaDepartment of Geological Engineering, Montana Technological University, Butte, Montana, United States of AmericaSchool of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United KingdomSchool of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United KingdomSchool of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United KingdomAix-Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France<p>Arctic regions are under immense pressure from a continuously warming climate. During the winter and shoulder seasons, recently deglaciated sediments are particularly sensitive to human-induced warming. Understanding the physical mechanisms and processes that determine soil liquid moisture availability contributes to the way we conceptualize and understand the development and functioning of terrestrial Arctic ecosystems. However, harsh weather and logistical constraints limit opportunities to directly observe subsurface processes year-round; hence automated and uninterrupted strategies of monitoring the coupled heat and water movement in soils are essential. Geoelectrical monitoring using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) has proven to be an effective method to capture soil moisture distribution in time and space. ERT instrumentation has been adapted for year-round operation in high-latitude weather conditions. We installed two geoelectrical monitoring stations on the forefield of a retreating glacier in Svalbard, consisting of semi-permanent surface ERT arrays and co-located soil sensors, which track seasonal changes in soil electrical resistivity, moisture, and temperature in 3D. One of the stations observes recently exposed sediments (5–10 years since deglaciation), whilst the other covers more established sediments (50–60 years since deglaciation). We obtained a 1-year continuous measurement record (October 2021–September 2022), which produced 4D images of soil freeze–thaw transitions with unprecedented detail, allowing us to calculate the velocity of the thawing front in 3D. At its peak, this was found to be 1 m d<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> for the older sediments and 0.4 m d<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> for the younger sediments. Records of soil moisture and thermal regime obtained by sensors help define the conditions under which snowmelt takes place. Our data reveal that the freeze–thaw shoulder period, during which the surface soils experienced the zero-curtain effect, lasted 23 d at the site closer to the glacier but only 6 d for the older sediments. Furthermore, we used unsupervised clustering to classify areas of the soil volume according to their electrical resistivity coefficient of variance, which enables us to understand spatial variations in susceptibility to water-phase transition. Novel insights into soil moisture dynamics throughout the spring melt will help parameterize models of biological activity to build a more predictive understanding of newly emerging terrestrial landscapes and their impact on carbon and nutrient cycling.</p>https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/401/2025/tc-19-401-2025.pdf |
| spellingShingle | M. O. Cimpoiasu O. Kuras H. Harrison P. B. Wilkinson P. Meldrum J. E. Chambers D. Liljestrand C. Oroza S. K. Schmidt P. Sommers L. Vimercati T. P. Irons Z. Lyu A. Solon J. A. Bradley J. A. Bradley High-resolution 4D electrical resistivity tomography and below-ground point sensor monitoring of High Arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero-curtain effects, freeze–thaw transitions, and mid-winter thawing The Cryosphere |
| title | High-resolution 4D electrical resistivity tomography and below-ground point sensor monitoring of High Arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero-curtain effects, freeze–thaw transitions, and mid-winter thawing |
| title_full | High-resolution 4D electrical resistivity tomography and below-ground point sensor monitoring of High Arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero-curtain effects, freeze–thaw transitions, and mid-winter thawing |
| title_fullStr | High-resolution 4D electrical resistivity tomography and below-ground point sensor monitoring of High Arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero-curtain effects, freeze–thaw transitions, and mid-winter thawing |
| title_full_unstemmed | High-resolution 4D electrical resistivity tomography and below-ground point sensor monitoring of High Arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero-curtain effects, freeze–thaw transitions, and mid-winter thawing |
| title_short | High-resolution 4D electrical resistivity tomography and below-ground point sensor monitoring of High Arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero-curtain effects, freeze–thaw transitions, and mid-winter thawing |
| title_sort | high resolution 4d electrical resistivity tomography and below ground point sensor monitoring of high arctic deglaciated sediments capture zero curtain effects freeze thaw transitions and mid winter thawing |
| url | https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/401/2025/tc-19-401-2025.pdf |
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