Elements of Permafrost Science
Module 1: The Ground Thermal Regime

 

Elements of Permafrost Science with Dr. Chris Burn (Carleton University)

Module 1: The Ground Thermal Regime

 

This module focuses on the ground thermal regime – the temperatures observed within the ground and how they vary over the year.

 


 

1.1 Definitions and Distribution of Permafrost

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn defines fundamental permafrost terminology, describes the permafrost thermal regime, explains permafrost zones, and shows the distribution of permafrost in Canada.

 

Summary video

 


 

1.2 Continental Climate and Permafrost

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn explains the climatic factors affecting permafrost distribution across Canada.

 

Summary video

 


 

1.3 Permafrost Thickness

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn describes how thermal properties and fluxes affect permafrost thickness.

 

Summary video

 


 

1.4 Permafrost and Microclimate

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn explores the microclimatic factors that control the spatial variation in ground temperatures and the presence of permafrost in discontinuous permafrost zones.

 

Summary video

 


 

1.5 Thermal Regime of the Active Layer

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn covers parameters that govern the thermal regime of the active layer, including ground ice content, latent heat exchanges, thermal conductivity, and snow cover.

 

Summary video

 


 

1.6 Surface and Thermal Offsets

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn explains the relationships between air, ground surface, and permafrost temperatures and the indices that are used to quantify these relationships.

 

Summary video

 


 

1.7 Ground Temperature Envelope

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn describes the mechanics of how heat flows through the ground and how ground temperatures vary throughout the year.

 

Summary video

 


 

1.8 Aggradation and Degradation of Permafrost

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn shows how the basic principles of heat flow can be used to calculate the depth of aggrading (or degrading) permafrost as a function of time.

 

Summary video

 


 

1.9 Ground Thermal Regime Summary

 

In this video, Dr. Chris Burn reiterates key points from module 1.

 

Summary video

 


 

Video Series

These materials aim to summarize some of the basic ideas and information you may need to understand the behaviour and sensitivity of permafrost terrain. The videos are organized into 3 modules, where each module contains 8 lectures. For each lecture, there is a short summary video. Full-legnth lectures will be posted soon, so stay tuned!

 

Overview

 

Module 1: The Ground Thermal Regime

 

Module 2: Ground Ice Characteristics and Development

 

Module 3: Permafrost Geoscience

 


 

The Frozen Canoes Project

 

This video series was sponsored by the Frozen Canoes Project of the Research Council of Norway. The Frozen Canoes Project provides education on landscape and infrastructure dynamics in frozen environments undergoing climate change in Canada, Norway, and Svalbard. This project is a collaborative effort between five partner universities: