Permafrost, Ground Ice, and Permafrost, Ground Ice, and Soils Databases: USA Soils Databases: USA

summarysummary Brief overview of US databases Brief overview of US databases

involving permafrost, soils, and involving permafrost, soils, and ground iceground ice

Includes soil climateIncludes soil climate Several organizations are Several organizations are

international programsinternational programs

National Snow and Ice Data National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) Center (NSIDC) http://nsidc.org/http://nsidc.org/

Primary archive of NSF, NASA, NOAA, and othersPrimary archive of NSF, NASA, NOAA, and others Frozen Ground DataFrozen Ground Data

Active layerActive layer CryosolsCryosols Ground iceGround ice Periglacial processesPeriglacial processes PermafrostPermafrost Rock GlaciersRock Glaciers Seasonally frozen groundSeasonally frozen ground Soil TemperatureSoil Temperature

Dry Valley Drilling Project Dry Valley Drilling Project (DVDP)(DVDP)

Joint effort with Japan, Joint effort with Japan, New Zealand, USANew Zealand, USA

Reconnaissance Reconnaissance during IGY 1959during IGY 1959

Drilled post-IGY 15 Drilled post-IGY 15 cores, 2 km totalcores, 2 km total

Goal was to study past Goal was to study past 10 Ma history10 Ma history

Geology, Geology, Geochemistry, BiologyGeochemistry, Biology

Long Term Ecological Research Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network(LTER) Network

Established 1980, 26 sitesEstablished 1980, 26 sites McMurdo Dry ValleysMcMurdo Dry Valleys

Microbial ecosystem, Microbial ecosystem, ephemeral streams, closed ephemeral streams, closed basin lakesbasin lakes

Data on: meteorology, Data on: meteorology, streams, lakes, glaciers, soilsstreams, lakes, glaciers, soils

PalmerPalmer Ecosystem focusEcosystem focus

VALMAPVALMAP ( (VValleys in alleys in AAntarctica: ntarctica: LLayered ayered MMapping, apping,

AAnalysis, and nalysis, and PPlanning lanning VALMAP)VALMAP) Aerial PhotographyAerial Photography

Bedrock GeologyBedrock Geology Firn, GlaciersFirn, Glaciers LakesLakes Ground-Penetrating RadarGround-Penetrating Radar SoilsSoils

Bockheim PitsBockheim Pits Campbell PitsCampbell Pits

Satellite ImagerySatellite Imagery Ground Ice (extensive survey)Ground Ice (extensive survey) StreamsStreams TopographyTopography

Server is currently inactive Server is currently inactive but should reopen on USGS but should reopen on USGS web server 2004-5web server 2004-5

University of Wisconsin University of Wisconsin Antarctic Soils DatabaseAntarctic Soils Database

Bockheim , students, & colleagues from Bockheim , students, & colleagues from 1975 to 1987, 481 soils1975 to 1987, 481 soils

Archived with National Snow and Ice Data Archived with National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) Center (NSIDC) ((http://nsidc.org/data/docs/fgdc/ggd221_soiltemp_antarctica/index.htmlhttp://nsidc.org/data/docs/fgdc/ggd221_soiltemp_antarctica/index.html))

Compliments database of Ian Campbell Compliments database of Ian Campbell from New Zealandfrom New Zealand

Included in VALMAP and other soil mapsIncluded in VALMAP and other soil maps

Global Terrestrial Network for Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P)Permafrost (GTN-P)

Initiated by the International Permafrost Association (IPA)Initiated by the International Permafrost Association (IPA) Organize and manage a global network of permafrost Organize and manage a global network of permafrost

observatories for detecting, monitoring, and predicting observatories for detecting, monitoring, and predicting climate changeclimate change

Authorized under the Global Climate Observing System Authorized under the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)(GCOS)

Permafrost and Climate in Europe (PACE) contributionsPermafrost and Climate in Europe (PACE) contributions

Two componentsTwo components1)1) Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM) network which Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM) network which

was established in 1990 active layer (the surface layer that was established in 1990 active layer (the surface layer that freezes and thaws annually)freezes and thaws annually)

2)2) Monitor the thermal state of the underlying permafrost Monitor the thermal state of the underlying permafrost primarily using deep boreholesprimarily using deep boreholes

Antarctic Candidate Boreholes Antarctic Candidate Boreholes GTN-P GTN-P

Borehole #

Name Depth (m)

Class Investigator(s) masl pf-depth (m)

CALM

A1 Antarctic >282 DB Gary Clow 20 >282

A2 Antarctic 19 SH Ron Sletten/David Gilichinsky

1273 A4A

A3 Simpson Crags 8 SU Mauro Guglielmin A6

A4 Boulder Clay 3.6 SU Mauro Guglielmin A7

A5 M. Keinath 1 SU Mauro Guglielmin A13

A6 Incinerator Point 2.4 SU M. Ramos 30

A7 Mount Reina Sofía

1.2 SU M. Ramos 274

A8 Marble Point 1.2 SU Campbell/ Paetzold 60 A3

A9 Bull Pass 1.2 SU Campbell/ Paetzold 150 A2

A10 Scott Base 1.2 SU Campbell/ Paetzold 80 A1

(Borehole class: SU (surface <10m); SH (shallow 10-25m); IB (intermediate 25-125m); DB (deep geothermal >125); * CALM sites)

NRCS (Natural Resources NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service)Conservation Service)

Joint program with Landcare, Joint program with Landcare, New ZealandNew Zealand

Under auspices of Global Under auspices of Global Climate Change Program, Climate Change Program, part of GTN-Ppart of GTN-P

Soils characterization (SCS Soils characterization (SCS standardized protocol)standardized protocol)

Monitor meteorology, soil Monitor meteorology, soil temperature & moisture, temperature & moisture, Active Layer thicknessActive Layer thickness

First site 1998, 7+ sitesFirst site 1998, 7+ sites

Other resourcesOther resources Satellite & Satellite &

Remote Remote sensingsensing SARSAR MicrowaveMicrowave

Ground iceGround ice ThermalThermal

GPS GPS monitoringmonitoring (UNAVCO)(UNAVCO) Monitor soil Monitor soil

movementmovement