Drilling in Alpine permafrost

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Abstract
Permafrost is not directly visible. It can be inferred from geomorphological forms such as rock glaciers, patterned ground, pingos, and so on. Another possibility is to perform geophysical soundings: BTS, refraction seismics, D C resistivity soundings or gravimetry are appropriate methods. The most reliable way to prove the occurrence of permafrost is to dig a pit (a major disturbance and hence not to be recommended) o r to drill a borehole. This makes it possible to measure the ground temperature below the surface for more than a year and thus to confirm the presence of permafrost.