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In situ nuclear magnetic resonance response of permafrost and active layer soil in boreal and tundra ecosystems

January 31, 2017

Characterization of permafrost, particularly warm and near-surface permafrost which can contain significant liquid water, is critical to understanding complex interrelationships with climate change, ecosystems, and disturbances such as wildfires. Understanding the vulnerability and resilience of permafrost requires an interdisciplinary approach, relying on (for example) geophysical investigations, ecological characterization, direct observations, remote sensing, and more. As part of a multi-year investigation into the impacts of wildfires to permafrost, we have collected in situ measurements of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) response of active layer and permafrost in a variety of soil conditions, types, and saturations. In this paper, we summarize the NMR data and present quantitative relationships between active layer and permafrost liquid water content and pore sizes. Through statistical analyses and synthetic freezing simulations, we also demonstrate that borehole NMR can image the nucleation of ice within soil pore spaces.

Publication Year 2017
Title In situ nuclear magnetic resonance response of permafrost and active layer soil in boreal and tundra ecosystems
DOI 10.5194/tc-2016-256
Authors Mason A. Kass, Trevor P Irons, Burke J. Minsley, Neal J. Pastick, Dana R N Brown, Bruce K. Wylie
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title The Cryosphere
Index ID 70189111
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Crustal Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center; Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center