Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-671
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-671
08 May 2023
 | 08 May 2023
Status: this preprint is open for discussion.

Spectral Induced Polarization imaging to monitor seasonal and annual dynamics of frozen ground at a mountain permafrost site in the Italian Alps

Theresa Maierhofer, Adrian Flores Orozco, Nathalie Roser, Jonas K. Limbrock, Christin Hilbich, Clemens Moser, Andreas Kemna, Elisabetta Drigo, Umberto Morra di Cella, and Christian Hauck

Abstract. We investigate the application of spectral induced polarization (SIP) monitoring to understand seasonal and annual variations of freezing and thawing processes in permafrost, in particular with regard to the frequency-dependence of the subsurface electrical properties. We installed a permanent SIP monitoring profile at a high mountain permafrost site in the Italian Alps in 2019 and collected SIP data in the frequency range between 0.1–75 Hz over 3 years. Complementary seismic data were acquired, which, together with borehole data, were used to aid interpretation of the SIP imaging results. In particular, we investigated the phase frequency effect (ϕFE), i.e., the change of resistivity phase with frequency. We observe that this parameter (ϕFE) is strongly sensitive to temperature changes and might be used as a proxy to delineate spatial and temporal changes of ice content in the subsurface, providing information not accessible through electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) or single-frequency IP measurements. Temporal changes in ϕFE are validated through laboratory SIP measurements on samples from the site in controlled freeze-thaw experiments. We demonstrate that SIP is capable of resolving temporal changes in the thermal state and the ice/water ratio associated with seasonal freeze-thaw processes. We investigate the consistency between the ϕFE observed in field data and ground water and ice content estimates derived from petrophysical modelling of ERT and seismic data.

Theresa Maierhofer et al.

Status: open (extended)

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Theresa Maierhofer et al.

Theresa Maierhofer et al.

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Short summary
In this study, we apply an electrical method in a high mountain permafrost terrain in the Italian Alps, where long-term borehole temperature data are available for validation. In particular, we investigate the frequency dependence of the electrical properties for seasonal and annual variations along three years monitoring period. We demonstrate that our method is capable of resolving temporal changes in the thermal state and the ice/water ratio associated with seasonal freeze-thaw processes.