One year of ground temperature data from the Cryolink boreholes

Herman Farbrot, October 23, 2009

The Cryolink boreholes were established during late August 2008, and for most holes one-year ground temperature time series are now available. At the main Cryolink sites Juvvass, Jetta and Tron permafrost is present at the uppermost boreholes. At Juvvass-BH1 (1861 m asl) active layer (the upper part of the ground that thaws during the summer) thickness for the 2008-2009 period was 1.5 m, and ground temperatures were ranging between -1.8 and -1.4 °C at 10 m depth. At Jetta BH-1 (1560 m asl) active layer thickness was more than 7 m, and ground temperatures at 10 m depth were ranging between -1.0 and -0.7 °C. At Tron BH-1 (1640 m asl) the active layer thickness was about 10 m, and ground temperatures at this depth was fairly stable at 0 °C. 

Especially at Tron snow thickness was considerably higher than normal during the winter 2008-2009. This led to limited frost penetration, and mean temperatures for the  2008-2009 period was above 0 °C down to 9 m depth. Permafrost will thus degrade at this site if similar conditions prevail in the future.  


Plot of minimum, average and maximum ground temperatures at different depths at Juvvass-BH1 for the period 2008-2009.


Plot of minimum, average and maximum ground temperatures at different depths at Jetta-BH1 for the period 2008-2009.


Plot of minimum, average and maximum ground temperatures at different depths at Tron-BH1 for the period 2008-2009.

Published Nov. 23, 2010 3:48 PM - Last modified Feb. 13, 2011 9:00 PM