Permafrost has been intensively studied on Svalbard, however, most studies conduct measurements in flat areas. Little is known about the temperature distribution in steep terrain, despite the impact on slope stability. The thesis aims to enhance our knowledge of how altitude, slope angle and aspect influence ground temperatures across Svalbard.
The work includes the analysis of temperature data, topographic maps and orthoimages. Additionally, high-resolution permafrost modelling with the CryoGrid community model can be conducted for selected sites. The thesis will use GIS tools and matlab for data analysis and modelling.
Fieldwork on Svalbard might be possible, given that the necessary funding can be secured.
