Pressurised water flow in fractured permafrost rocks – a hidden driver of subsurface warming?
Permafrost degradation is often (and rightfully) linked to rising air temperatures. But what if water plays an equally crucial role in subsurface warming? Our newly published paper in 'The Cryosphere' explores how seasonal water flow in rock fractures impacts permafrost dynamics at the north flank of the Kitzsteinhorn, part of the Open-Air Lab.
Key Findings:
- Borehole temperature data reveal abrupt anomalies and long-term regime changes – evidence of non-conductive heat transfer.
- Monthly electrical resistivity tomography shows a massive reduction in resistivity during the snowmelt period – indicating widespread water infiltration into the fracture network.
- Piezometer measurements revealing water levels of up to 11.8 m further support these findings.
Offer, M., Weber, S., Krautblatter, M., Hartmeyer, I., and Keuschnig, M. (2025): Pressurised water flow in fractured permafrost rocks revealed by borehole temperature, electrical resistivity tomography, and piezometric pressure, The Cryosphere, 19, 485–506, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-485-2025 .