Continuous Monitoring of Permafrost and Active Layer Dynamics with
Automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography on King George Island,
Antarctica
Abstract
Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a geophysical technique that
is often used to characterize and monitor permafrost. Automated ERT
(A-ERT) systems enable the collection of temporally dense datasets
without the need for repeated site visits. So far, only a few A-ERT
systems have been deployed in permafrost environments. We present the
results of an A-ERT system installed on King George Island, Antarctica.
The system withstood the harsh Antarctic environment and collected
resistivity data four times a day for a full year in 2022-2023.
Resistivity data captured seasonal freezing and thawing, as well as
short-term meteorological events. Resistivity was used to estimate
changes in unfrozen water content, and co-located temperature and soil
moisture data were used to assess relationships between resistivity,
soil moisture, and temperature. This work showcases the ability of A-ERT
systems to monitor permafrost and soil moisture dynamics and contributes
a unique dataset to global permafrost monitoring efforts.