The flow pathways of water through the Arctic landscape are strongly affected by the presence of permafrost, which impedes the flow of groundwater through the ground. Because groundwater makes up much of the water that fills the rivers, particularly when precipitation is low or frozen, this affects water flows in Arctic rivers.
Using ground radar to study detailed changes in the permafrost extent makes it possible to map where in the ground groundwater flows might occur during the winter when all the ground is frozen, and during the summer when the topsoil thaws. The ground radar reflections provide an image of the ground in cross section, revealing differences in its electrical properties.
Principal investigator
Ylva Sjöberg
Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology, Stockholm University