ANTERMON | ANTarctic Electrical Resistivity Monitoring Network
Field season 2023, James Ross Island
18/04/2023
This year, after the installation of three Automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography (A-ERT) systems at Deception, Livingston, King George Islands (Antarctica), we extended the A-ERT network from the south Shetlands to the eastern Antarctic Peninsula, James Ross Island. The island contains the largest ice-free area in the whole Antarctic Peninsula region and provides a unique place to study active layer dynamics. We installed an A-ERT setup with 48 electrodes and TDR probes in the CALM-S (Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring – South) JGM site for detailed detection of active layer freeze–thaw dynamics at this site. Satellite communication was developed to facilitate remote data transfer and system control at every remote deployment site, as well as to retrieve data easily.
This fieldwork in Antarctica was a collaborative effort between the University of Fribourg, the Czech Polar Program, Masaryk University, the University of Lisbon, and INIAV, Portugal. Unforgettable fieldwork in Antarctica at a logistically complex location of James Ross surrounded by ice and icebergs.
18/04/2023
This year, after the installation of three Automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography (A-ERT) systems at Deception, Livingston, King George Islands (Antarctica), we extended the A-ERT network from the south Shetlands to the eastern Antarctic Peninsula, James Ross Island. The island contains the largest ice-free area in the whole Antarctic Peninsula region and provides a unique place to study active layer dynamics. We installed an A-ERT setup with 48 electrodes and TDR probes in the CALM-S (Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring – South) JGM site for detailed detection of active layer freeze–thaw dynamics at this site. Satellite communication was developed to facilitate remote data transfer and system control at every remote deployment site, as well as to retrieve data easily.
This fieldwork in Antarctica was a collaborative effort between the University of Fribourg, the Czech Polar Program, Masaryk University, the University of Lisbon, and INIAV, Portugal. Unforgettable fieldwork in Antarctica at a logistically complex location of James Ross surrounded by ice and icebergs.
Field season 2023, South Shetland Islands
28/03/2023
This year Miguel Angel de Pablo and Joana Baptista visited the monitoring sites at Deception, King George and Livingston Islands and evaluated the A-ERT box conditions in monitoring sites, downloaded A-ERT data, and installed new TDR probes in vicinity of A-ERT profiles.
28/03/2023
This year Miguel Angel de Pablo and Joana Baptista visited the monitoring sites at Deception, King George and Livingston Islands and evaluated the A-ERT box conditions in monitoring sites, downloaded A-ERT data, and installed new TDR probes in vicinity of A-ERT profiles.
A-ERT Prototypes #1 and #2 energy consumption monitoring
10/03/2022
Automated (repeated) electrical resistivity tomography (A-ERT) data can provide information about thawing and freezing processes, ground ice content, its spatial variability and temporal changes; variables which are needed for modelling, stability analyses and questions regarding the impact of thawing permafrost on hydrology and future water availability. Continuous and autonomous ERT monitoring in remote and extreme polar environments (where winter access and maintenance are usually impossible), is however a very challenging task and only very few systems have been tested. This is because the set-up must be robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions without maintenance and also low-power to make continuous measurements feasible.
We developed and tested our A-ERT Prototype#1 based on the solar-panel-driven battery solution. We monitored the battery voltage and total incoming radiation in the solar noon, during the three years of monitoring period at Deception Island to evaluate the efficiency of this set-up. This prototype does 228 measurements per day. The set-up was capable of withstanding winter months without (or at a minimum level) solar power, however, a larger number of measurements will be difficult to perform as the battery voltage may drop to a point that can't be recharged afterwards.
We developed Prototype#2 and integrated an external timer that allows us to turn off the system after each round of measurements. This prototype does 400 measurements per day. However, even with a double number of measurements, Prototype#2 did a good job during the polar winter (The voltage did not fall below 13 V- Solar data is not available), suggesting that even a larger number of measurements are feasible. Additionally, the solar panel system was broken twice as a result of the very harsh conditions in this summit, and the setup worked for more than six months without a solar panel.
Our aim is to continue to improve this setup so that an international and standardized A-ERT monitoring network on permafrost is feasible and can be used as an additional essential climate variable (ECV) that complements current borehole temperatures.
10/03/2022
Automated (repeated) electrical resistivity tomography (A-ERT) data can provide information about thawing and freezing processes, ground ice content, its spatial variability and temporal changes; variables which are needed for modelling, stability analyses and questions regarding the impact of thawing permafrost on hydrology and future water availability. Continuous and autonomous ERT monitoring in remote and extreme polar environments (where winter access and maintenance are usually impossible), is however a very challenging task and only very few systems have been tested. This is because the set-up must be robust enough to withstand the harsh conditions without maintenance and also low-power to make continuous measurements feasible.
We developed and tested our A-ERT Prototype#1 based on the solar-panel-driven battery solution. We monitored the battery voltage and total incoming radiation in the solar noon, during the three years of monitoring period at Deception Island to evaluate the efficiency of this set-up. This prototype does 228 measurements per day. The set-up was capable of withstanding winter months without (or at a minimum level) solar power, however, a larger number of measurements will be difficult to perform as the battery voltage may drop to a point that can't be recharged afterwards.
We developed Prototype#2 and integrated an external timer that allows us to turn off the system after each round of measurements. This prototype does 400 measurements per day. However, even with a double number of measurements, Prototype#2 did a good job during the polar winter (The voltage did not fall below 13 V- Solar data is not available), suggesting that even a larger number of measurements are feasible. Additionally, the solar panel system was broken twice as a result of the very harsh conditions in this summit, and the setup worked for more than six months without a solar panel.
Our aim is to continue to improve this setup so that an international and standardized A-ERT monitoring network on permafrost is feasible and can be used as an additional essential climate variable (ECV) that complements current borehole temperatures.
Field season 2022, Barton Peninsula, King George Island
28/02/2022
Mohammad Farzamian and Henrique Zilhao (ULISBOA) deployed the third automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography system with a solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrode configuration today at Barton Peninsula, associated to the existing site of the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P). We also installed TDR probes near the middle of the ERT profile at several depths to monitor moisture content and temperature. Further, several ERT profiles were performed at different elevations in order to assess the presence and distribution of permafrost.
University of Fribourg, Centro de Estudos Geográficos (IGOT) and the Applied Geophysics group of Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL) - Universidade de Lisboa provided support to develop the A-ERT system. The TDR probes were provided by Masaryk University. The logistic support was provided by PROPOLAR and Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). The ANTERMON team are grateful to the King Sejong station for the field assistance.
28/02/2022
Mohammad Farzamian and Henrique Zilhao (ULISBOA) deployed the third automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography system with a solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrode configuration today at Barton Peninsula, associated to the existing site of the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P). We also installed TDR probes near the middle of the ERT profile at several depths to monitor moisture content and temperature. Further, several ERT profiles were performed at different elevations in order to assess the presence and distribution of permafrost.
University of Fribourg, Centro de Estudos Geográficos (IGOT) and the Applied Geophysics group of Instituto Dom Luiz (IDL) - Universidade de Lisboa provided support to develop the A-ERT system. The TDR probes were provided by Masaryk University. The logistic support was provided by PROPOLAR and Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). The ANTERMON team are grateful to the King Sejong station for the field assistance.
ANTEMON field season 2022
29/11/2021
ANTERMON activities in 2022 will be starting in January, with the installation of a new A-ERT system in King George Island and ERT surveys across the Island as well as maintenance of the A-ERT systems in Deception Island and Livingston Island, being conducted by 3 field teams. We developed and tested the new system at University of Lisbon.
29/11/2021
ANTERMON activities in 2022 will be starting in January, with the installation of a new A-ERT system in King George Island and ERT surveys across the Island as well as maintenance of the A-ERT systems in Deception Island and Livingston Island, being conducted by 3 field teams. We developed and tested the new system at University of Lisbon.
New paper in The Cryosphere!
Detailed detection of fast changes in the active layer using quasi-continuous electrical resistivity tomography (deception island, antarctica)
08/05/2020
Abstract:
Climate-induced warming of permafrost soils is a global phenomenon, with regional and site-specific variations which are not fully understood. In this context, a 2-D automated electrical resistivity tomography (A-ERT) system was installed for the first time in Antarctica at Deception Island, associated to the existing Crater Lake site of the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring – South Program (CALM-S) – site. This setup aims to (i) monitor subsurface freezing and thawing processes on a daily and seasonal basis and map the spatial and temporal variability in thaw depth and to (ii) study the impact of short-lived extreme meteorological events on active layer dynamics. In addition, the feasibility of installing and running autonomous ERT monitoring stations in remote and extreme environments such as Antarctica was evaluated for the first time. Measurements were repeated at 4 h intervals during a full year, enabling the detection of seasonal trends and short-lived resistivity changes reflecting individual meteorological events. The latter is important for distinguishing between (1) long-term climatic trends and (2) the impact of anomalous seasons on the ground thermal regime.
Our full-year dataset shows large and fast temporal resistivity changes during the seasonal active layer freezing and thawing and indicates that our system setup can resolve spatiotemporal thaw depth variability along the experimental transect at very high temporal resolution. The largest resistivity changes took place during the freezing season in April, when low temperatures induce an abrupt phase change in the active layer in the absence of snow cover. The seasonal thawing of the active layer is associated with a slower resistivity decrease during October due to the presence of snow cover and the corresponding zero-curtain effect. Detailed investigation of the daily resistivity variations reveals several periods with rapid and sharp resistivity changes of the near-surface layers due to the brief surficial refreezing of the active layer in summer or brief thawing of the active layer during winter as a consequence of short-lived meteorological extreme events. These results emphasize the significance of the continuous A-ERT monitoring setup which enables detecting fast changes in the active layer during short-lived extreme meteorological events.
Based on this first complete year-round A-ERT monitoring dataset on Deception Island, we believe that this system shows high potential for autonomous applications in remote and harsh polar environments such as Antarctica. The monitoring system can be used with larger electrode spacing to investigate greater depths, providing adequate monitoring at sites and depths where boreholes are very costly and the ecosystem is very sensitive to invasive techniques. Further applications may be the estimation of ice and water contents through petrophysical models or the calibration and validation of heat transfer models between the active layer and permafrost.
Farzamian, M., Vieira, G., Monteiro Santos, F. A., Yaghoobi Tabar, B., Hauck, C., Paz, M. C., Bernardo, I., Ramos, M., and de Pablo, M. A.: Detailed detection of active layer freeze–thaw dynamics using quasi-continuous electrical resistivity tomography (Deception Island, Antarctica), The Cryosphere, 14, 1105–1120, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1105-2020, 2020.
Detailed detection of fast changes in the active layer using quasi-continuous electrical resistivity tomography (deception island, antarctica)
08/05/2020
Abstract:
Climate-induced warming of permafrost soils is a global phenomenon, with regional and site-specific variations which are not fully understood. In this context, a 2-D automated electrical resistivity tomography (A-ERT) system was installed for the first time in Antarctica at Deception Island, associated to the existing Crater Lake site of the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring – South Program (CALM-S) – site. This setup aims to (i) monitor subsurface freezing and thawing processes on a daily and seasonal basis and map the spatial and temporal variability in thaw depth and to (ii) study the impact of short-lived extreme meteorological events on active layer dynamics. In addition, the feasibility of installing and running autonomous ERT monitoring stations in remote and extreme environments such as Antarctica was evaluated for the first time. Measurements were repeated at 4 h intervals during a full year, enabling the detection of seasonal trends and short-lived resistivity changes reflecting individual meteorological events. The latter is important for distinguishing between (1) long-term climatic trends and (2) the impact of anomalous seasons on the ground thermal regime.
Our full-year dataset shows large and fast temporal resistivity changes during the seasonal active layer freezing and thawing and indicates that our system setup can resolve spatiotemporal thaw depth variability along the experimental transect at very high temporal resolution. The largest resistivity changes took place during the freezing season in April, when low temperatures induce an abrupt phase change in the active layer in the absence of snow cover. The seasonal thawing of the active layer is associated with a slower resistivity decrease during October due to the presence of snow cover and the corresponding zero-curtain effect. Detailed investigation of the daily resistivity variations reveals several periods with rapid and sharp resistivity changes of the near-surface layers due to the brief surficial refreezing of the active layer in summer or brief thawing of the active layer during winter as a consequence of short-lived meteorological extreme events. These results emphasize the significance of the continuous A-ERT monitoring setup which enables detecting fast changes in the active layer during short-lived extreme meteorological events.
Based on this first complete year-round A-ERT monitoring dataset on Deception Island, we believe that this system shows high potential for autonomous applications in remote and harsh polar environments such as Antarctica. The monitoring system can be used with larger electrode spacing to investigate greater depths, providing adequate monitoring at sites and depths where boreholes are very costly and the ecosystem is very sensitive to invasive techniques. Further applications may be the estimation of ice and water contents through petrophysical models or the calibration and validation of heat transfer models between the active layer and permafrost.
Farzamian, M., Vieira, G., Monteiro Santos, F. A., Yaghoobi Tabar, B., Hauck, C., Paz, M. C., Bernardo, I., Ramos, M., and de Pablo, M. A.: Detailed detection of active layer freeze–thaw dynamics using quasi-continuous electrical resistivity tomography (Deception Island, Antarctica), The Cryosphere, 14, 1105–1120, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1105-2020, 2020.
Field season 2020, Livingston Island
08/02/2020
Mohammad Farzamian (IDL/ULISBOA) and John Triantafilis (UNSW) installed the second automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography system with a solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrode configuration today at Livingston Island, associated to the existing Reine Sofia site of the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) in order to study the long-term climatic trend on the ground thermal regime as well as to investigate the impact of the short-lived extreme meteorological events on the soil horizon. This system was installed just one year after installation of the first A-ERT system at Deception Island. The Lippmann resistivity meter was programmed in combination with 26 electrodes and 0.5 m spacing for the A-ERT surveys and the Wenner electrode configuration was used in order to minimize energy consumption and measurement time as well as to obtain the best signal-to-noise ratio in highly resistive terrain. An explorer cases 5833B was used, casing the 4POINTLIGHT_10W instrument, solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrodes connectors during data acquisition. A timer was used this year to optimize the energy consumption by turning on the system at each six hours for ERT measurements.
In addition, several ERT profiles were carried out in several sites to assess active layer and permafrost distribution across the Island and to compare with observations one decade ago. Moreover, we have evaluated the potential of Electromagnetic induction method in soil digital mapping.
08/02/2020
Mohammad Farzamian (IDL/ULISBOA) and John Triantafilis (UNSW) installed the second automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography system with a solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrode configuration today at Livingston Island, associated to the existing Reine Sofia site of the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) in order to study the long-term climatic trend on the ground thermal regime as well as to investigate the impact of the short-lived extreme meteorological events on the soil horizon. This system was installed just one year after installation of the first A-ERT system at Deception Island. The Lippmann resistivity meter was programmed in combination with 26 electrodes and 0.5 m spacing for the A-ERT surveys and the Wenner electrode configuration was used in order to minimize energy consumption and measurement time as well as to obtain the best signal-to-noise ratio in highly resistive terrain. An explorer cases 5833B was used, casing the 4POINTLIGHT_10W instrument, solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrodes connectors during data acquisition. A timer was used this year to optimize the energy consumption by turning on the system at each six hours for ERT measurements.
In addition, several ERT profiles were carried out in several sites to assess active layer and permafrost distribution across the Island and to compare with observations one decade ago. Moreover, we have evaluated the potential of Electromagnetic induction method in soil digital mapping.
ANTEMON field season 2020 starting
31/01/2020
ANTERMON activities in 2020 are just starting, with the installation of a new A-ERT system in Livingston Island and EM and ERT surveys across the Island as well as maintenance of the A-ERT system in Deception Island, being conducted by 2 field teams.
- Livingston Island: Mohammad Farzamian (IDL/ULISBOA) and John Triantafilis (UNSW ) will install a new monitoring electrical resistivity meter (A-ERT), which was built at IDL this year, in Rene Sofia site and perform EM and ERT surveys across the Island.
- Deception Island: Miguel Esteves will do the maintenance of the existing A-ERT system as well as repeating ERT surveys to compare with observations one decade ago.
31/01/2020
ANTERMON activities in 2020 are just starting, with the installation of a new A-ERT system in Livingston Island and EM and ERT surveys across the Island as well as maintenance of the A-ERT system in Deception Island, being conducted by 2 field teams.
- Livingston Island: Mohammad Farzamian (IDL/ULISBOA) and John Triantafilis (UNSW ) will install a new monitoring electrical resistivity meter (A-ERT), which was built at IDL this year, in Rene Sofia site and perform EM and ERT surveys across the Island.
- Deception Island: Miguel Esteves will do the maintenance of the existing A-ERT system as well as repeating ERT surveys to compare with observations one decade ago.
The first ANTERMON field team to go south this season: Mohammad Farzamian (IDL/ULISBOA) and John Triantafilis (UNSW ) landed in King George Island and heading to livingston Island by Spanish Ship Hesperides.
The A-ERT system built at IDL this year. A set-up with 26 electrodes and 0.5 m spacing. An explorer cases 5833B was used, casing the 4POINTLIGHT_10W instrument, solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrodes connectors during data acquisition. A timer was used this year to optimize the energy consumption by turning on the system at each six hours for ERT measurements.
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A-ERT monitoring system at Deception Island
25/12/2019
Miguel Angel de Pablo visited the crate lake CALM site at Deception Island today and evaluated the A-ERT box condition after 1 year of monitoring. The system is in a very good condition with the battery in full capacity and the device with already 1288 monitoring data-set and ready for the new measurement.
25/12/2019
Miguel Angel de Pablo visited the crate lake CALM site at Deception Island today and evaluated the A-ERT box condition after 1 year of monitoring. The system is in a very good condition with the battery in full capacity and the device with already 1288 monitoring data-set and ready for the new measurement.
Field season 2019, Deception Island
15/02/2019
This year the applied geophysics team from IDL, developed an automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography system with a solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrode configuration to install at Deception Island, associated to the existing Crater Lake site of the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Network (CALM) and corresponding boreholes of the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) in order to study the long-term climatic trend on the ground thermal regime as well as to investigate the impact of the short-lived extreme meteorological events on the soil horizon.
Mohammad Farzamian (IDL) traveled to Deception Island in the scope of PERMANTAR project and installed the A-ERT system in the CALM site. Several ERT profiles were also carried out in several sites to assess active layer and permafrost distribution across the Deception Island. Miguel Angel de Pablo (University of Alcalá) contributed to the installation of the A-ERT system and ERT surveys across the Island.
15/02/2019
This year the applied geophysics team from IDL, developed an automated Electrical Resistivity Tomography system with a solar panel-driven battery and multi-electrode configuration to install at Deception Island, associated to the existing Crater Lake site of the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Network (CALM) and corresponding boreholes of the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) in order to study the long-term climatic trend on the ground thermal regime as well as to investigate the impact of the short-lived extreme meteorological events on the soil horizon.
Mohammad Farzamian (IDL) traveled to Deception Island in the scope of PERMANTAR project and installed the A-ERT system in the CALM site. Several ERT profiles were also carried out in several sites to assess active layer and permafrost distribution across the Deception Island. Miguel Angel de Pablo (University of Alcalá) contributed to the installation of the A-ERT system and ERT surveys across the Island.