Changes in permafrost distribution in the Hornsund Area (Svalbard) based on ERT surveys from 2010 - 2025

Rapid changes in the cryosphere, including permafrost, glaciers, and snow cover, are increasingly altering polar environments, with significant implications for climate feedbacks, hydrology, ecosystem functioning, and biogeochemical cycles. In polar regions, these transformations are particularly pronounced in post-glacial landscapes, where surface and subsurface processes respond sensitively to ongoing climatic forcing.

This study presents the results of long-term investigations of permafrost distribution and degradation in the Hornsund area (Svalbard), based on electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys conducted between 2010 and 2025. Geophysical measurements were carried out across a range of geomorphological settings, including marine terraces, mountain slopes, coastal zones, and the forefields of retreating glaciers. The multi-site and multi-temporal ERT dataset enabled detailed identification and characterization of permafrost occurrence, thickness, and internal structure under varying environmental conditions.

The 15-year observation period provides a robust basis for assessing spatio-temporal changes in permafrost distribution and for identifying signs of progressive degradation in selected areas. Observed resistivity patterns indicate a reduction in permafrost continuity and thickness. These results contribute to improved quantification of the impacts of permafrost change on hydrological regimes, sediment and nutrient transport, coastal stability, and ecosystem dynamics. The findings highlight the importance of long-term geophysical monitoring in reducing uncertainties associated with projections of cryosphere climate interactions and their broader environmental consequences.