JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. E4, 8039, doi:10.1029/2002JE001881, 2003
A review of the nature and geophysical studies of the thick permafrost in Siberia: Relevance to exploration on Mars
Scientific Council on Earth Cryology, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Moscow, Russia
Abstract
[1] In this paper we discuss the best Siberian permafrost analog of the Martian cryosphere in connection with the design of deep-sounding geophysical methods for the detection of liquid water beneath frozen formations on Mars. The peculiarities of the terrestrial cryolithozone and its unique thickness (up to 1.5 km) in the region under consideration (Western Yakutia) are described. The Russian experience in detecting the lower boundary of permafrost, by various geophysical methods, and suggestions regarding the most effective methods for the deep sounding of the Martian cryosphere are also briefly discussed.
Received 26 June 2002; revised 21 October 2002; accepted 30 January 2003; published 29 April 2003.
Keywords: Permafrost, origin, thickness, geophysical studies.
Index Terms: 1823 Hydrology: Frozen ground; 0925 Exploration Geophysics: Magnetic and electrical methods.
Citation: A review of the nature and geophysical studies of the thick permafrost in Siberia: Relevance to exploration on Mars, J. Geophys. Res., 108(E4), 8039, doi:10.1029/2002JE001881, 2003.