Observations of soil freezing and frost heave at Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

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Abstract
Field observations of soil temperature, moisture regime, and frost heave in silty clay hummocks at Inuvik, Northwest Territories, over the fall and early winter reveal that a significant amount of moisture migration and frost heave occurs within frozen soil at temperatures down to -2.4.degree. C. The field data are analyzed using thermodynamic considerations, and the apparent hydraulic conductivity is determined as a function of negative temperature. The conductivity falls from near 7 .times. 10-9 m s-1 above 0.degree. C to .apprx. 3.5 .times. 10-12 m s-1 at -1.degree. C, then remains fairly constant down to -2.4.degree. C. The observed decrease in heave with time is explained in terms of a diminishing water supply at the base of the active layer.

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