🔍 Hidden Layers in Permafrost: New Study Decodes GPR Interpretation Challenges

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is indispensable for subsurface exploration, but interpreting data in complex multilayered permafrost remains problematic. A new study offers a solution to accurately determine rock properties in permafrost environments.

🔥 Key Findings:

1. Layered Media Model
A mathematical model describes EM wave behavior through alternating frozen/thawed layers, focusing on hyperbolic signatures in radargrams — critical for data interpretation.

Important limitation:
❗️ The model excludes EM wave dispersion/absorption effects.

2. Measurement "Deception"
A mere 0.5 m thawed layer (within a 4.5 m rock mass) can reduce apparent wave velocity by ~10%, while remaining undetected in standard analysis.

3. Digital Validation:
Simulations in gprMax and GeoScan32 confirmed model accuracy with <0.5% error.

🛠 Applications:
✔️ improved ground stability assessment for construction;
✔️ detection of hazardous thawed layers;
✔️ enhanced automated GPR data processing.

⚙️ Technical Specs:
✔️ Ricker pulses at 400 MHz;
✔️ Up to 9 layers analyzed;
✔️ Dielectric permittivity: ε'=4–20.

Original study:
📌 Sokolov K.О. Model of time-distance curve of electromagnetic waves diffracted on a local feature in the georadar study of permafrost zone rock layers. Mining Science and Technology (Russia). 2024;9(3):199-205. https://doi.org/10.17073/2500-0632-2023-05-118

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