Student Research Reports

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Alaska is located in an arctic and sub-arctic climate with the presence of permafrost. Permafrost conditions range from isolated, sporadic, discontinuous, to continuous extent, depending on location (Yoshikawa, 2013). The Frost Tube Protocol monitors the depth and timing of the freezing of the ground, which is considered the active layer, in places with permafrost. Measurements are taken from ground depth, not the permafrost depth (Frost Tube Protocol). Frost depth can be influenced by air, surface, and soil temperature, as well as the snow depth and vegetation cover (Frost Tube Protocol). According to Iwata et al., soil frost depth influences the amount of snowmelt infiltration (2011), which could influence crop cultivation, plant growth, rate of decomposition of organic matter, and other biological, chemical, and physical properties that occur within soil (Frost Tube Protocol). Data gathered from this research will contribute to a greater understanding of climate change and its resonating effects on natural environments and local ecosystems, as well as how permafrost and active layer change over time (Yoshikawa, 2013). Research Question Research was conducted to explore how frost depth varies between geographic location; how air and surface temperature influence soil freeze; and investigate if there is an influence of elevation, within UAF campus grounds.