DC resistivity and seismic refraction soundings on rock glacier permafrost in northwestern Svalbard

On the West coast of Spitsbergen, at Ny-Ålesun mean annual air temperature is and mean annual precipitation does not exceed 400 mm. Such climatic conditions indicate that the entire area lies within the belt of continuous permafrost. Mean permafrost thickness is about 140 to 180m. The active layer thickness ranges from 1.0 to 1.5 m (Hallet & Prestrud 1986). These climatic conditions lead to some typical permafrost features such as rock glaciers. These were mapped for the whole Svalbard area by Kristiansen & Sollid (1986).