Ground thermal data collection along the Alaska Highway corridor (KP1559-1895), Yukon, summer 2016

Abstract

Ground temperature data were acquired in August 2016 from 14 boreholes along the northwestern section of the Alaska Highway corridor between kilometre post (KP) 1559 and KP 1895 near the Alaska border. Mean annual ground temperatures, determined at or near the zero annual amplitude depth, indicate that permafrost temperature in this section of the corridor is generally above -1°C with colder conditions near the Alaska border where permafrost can be as cold as -3°C. Temperatures measured in the upper 1-2 m indicate that permafrost is present at some sites where surface temperatures are above 0°C and where a sufficient thermal offset exists. These new data have extended existing records so that time series for these sites are 3 to 5 years long. Although mean annual air temperatures in the corridor have increased over the last few years, there is no consistent trend in ground temperature apparent in the short records. The information obtained helps characterize regional permafrost conditions in the southern Yukon and informs climate change impact assessments and adaptation planning.