Permafrost monitoring on Yamal

Permafrost is an essential climate variable (ECV ). It is a subsurface phenomenon which cannot be directly measured with remotely sensed data. However, many parameters which influence the ground thermal regime and surface indicators can be captured with satellite data. This joint Russian-Austrian project utilizes satellite data indicating surface dynamics and properties of underlying permafrost in a region for which significant climate induced changes are predicted within this century. The objective of this project is to develop novel and refine existing methodologies for monitoring of permafrost, related land surface features and to advance our knowledge on permafrost landscape evolution by a synergistic analysis of these features, specifically thaw lakes, and active layer properties. The latter includes also investigation of detachment slides and impact of snow characteristics. The focus will be on a site on the Yamal peninsula underlain by permafrost. This area is monitored since 1988 by the Earth Cryosphere Institute and is close to a CALM site which contributes to the GTN-P network. This project will extent previous investigations with medium to coarse spatial resolution C- and Ku-band radar (SAR and scatterometer) analyses. Especially higher spatial resolution X-band SAR data in combination with field investigations of permafrost is expected to yield new information and thus enable innovation. The expertise of the team which includes geomorphology, geobotany, environmental sciences, cartography, remote sensing along with geocryology (permafrost science) provides the basis of a multidisciplinary approach. Coordinated knowledge exchange will ensure the appropriate selection of data for application in this particular area, development of the necessary processing of remotely sensed and ground data and interpretation of results. The feasibility of the project is assured by the comprehensive experience in environmental monitoring in the north of West Siberia of the Russian partner, access to a huge database of geographic data and knowledge concerning various permafrost features including activity of various relief-forming processes in the tundra of Yamal Peninsula, and extensive experience of the Austrian side in the use of the full range of remote sensing methods in permafrost environments. The expected results of the proposed interdisciplinary project are: - Development of a range of comprehensive methods combining field and remote sensing techniques to characterize permafrost parameters in the North of West Siberia and other permafrost regions (an integrated method), and - Application of the integrated method to the reference location on Yamal Peninsula.

No additional funding sources recorded.