| Title | Geophysical characterization of permafrost terrain at Iqaluit International Airport, Nunavut |
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| Author | Oldenborger, G A ;
LeBlanc, A -M |
| Source | Journal of Applied Geophysics vol. 123, 2015 p. 36-49, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2015.09.016 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2015 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20150331 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Nunavut |
| NTS | 25N/15 |
| Area | Iqaluit |
| Lat/Long WENS | -69.0000 -68.5000 64.0000 63.7500 |
| Subjects | geophysics; Nature and Environment; permafrost; electromagnetic fields; e m surveys; electrical resistivity; resistivity |
| Illustrations | location maps; photographs; plots |
| Program | Climate Change Geoscience Land-based Infrastructure |
| Released | 2015 12 01 |
| Abstract | Iqaluit International Airport presently suffers from instabilities and subsidence along its runway, taxiways and apron. In particular, asphalt surfaces are significantly impacted by settlement and
cracking. These instabilities may be related to permafrost, permafrost degradation and associated drainage conditions. Low induction number electromagnetic measurements along with galvanic and capacitive electrical resistivity surveys were performed
over selected areas within the airport boundary and in the near vicinity to assist with permafrost characterization and to investigate active permafrost processes. Electrical resistivity images suggest distinct electrical signatures for different
terrain units and sediment types, and for ice-rich material including ice wedges. Anomalous regions are identified that are coincident with localized settlement problems. Repeated resistivity maps reveal seasonal changes indicative of high unfrozen
water content and freeze/thaw of groundwater beneath airport infrastructure in distinct regions related to surficial geology. Even with continuous permafrost and cold permafrost temperatures, the resistivity models reveal anomalously conductive
material at depth that is not obviously correlated to mapped surficial sediments and that may represent thaw susceptible sediments or significant unfrozen water content. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
Iqaluit International Airport presently suffers from instabilities and subsidence along its runway, taxiways and apron. In particular, asphalt surfaces
are significantly impacted by settlement and cracking. These instabilities may be related to permafrost and permafrost degradation. Geophysical surveys were performed over selected areas within the airport boundary and in the near vicinity to assist
with permafrost characterization and to investigate active permafrost processes. Results allow mapping of different terrain units and sediment types along with identification of ice-rich ground and groundwater beneath airport infrastructure.
Observations are related to known settlement problems on the airport apron and taxiways. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 297394 |
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