The Cryosphere Discussions www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net 1994-0432 1994-0440 3 3 2009 10.5194/tcd-3-919-2009 http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/919/2009/ http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/919/2009/tcd-3-919-2009.html http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/919/2009/tcd-3-919-2009.pdf 919 946 2009-11-02 Multi-channel ground-penetrating radar to explore spatial variations in thaw depth and moisture content in the active layer of a permafrost site U. Wollschläger ute.wollschlaeger@iup.uni-heidelberg.de H. Gerhards Q. Yu K. Roth Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany State Key Laboratory of Frozen Soil Engineering Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, CAS, Lanzhou, China Multi-channel ground-penetrating radar was applied at a permafrost site on the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the influence of surface properties and soil texture on the late-summer thaw depth and average soil moisture content of the active layer. Measurements were conducted on an approximately 85×60 m² sized area with surface and soil textural properties that ranged from medium to coarse textured bare soil to finer textured, vegetated areas covered with fine, wind blown sand, and it included the bed of a gravel road. The survey allowed a clear differentiation of the various units. 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