Salt and water transfer in frozen soils induced by gradients of temperature and salt content

Experiments were undertaken for 12 years at the Amderma permafrost station on the long-term influence of temperature and salinization gradient on frozen soils. Temperature gradients were maintained at about 0.05°C/cm. Salt migration studies were carried out on samples containing two soil parts with different salt content. There was a change in the cryogenic structure of samples, notably the form and size of ice lenses, under the influence of the temperature gradient. However, only local migration of water and salt occurred and there was no transfer from one side of the sample to the other. At the salt content gradient used, there was a migration of salt over the 12-year period.