Articles | Volume 16, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3507-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3507-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Brief communication: Unravelling the composition and microstructure of a permafrost core using X-ray computed tomography
Permafrost Research Section, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany
Paleoclimate Dynamics Section, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
Damir Gadylyaev
Permafrost Research Section, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany
Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Steffen Schlüter
Department of Soil System Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany
John Maximilian Köhne
Department of Soil System Science, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany
Guido Grosse
Permafrost Research Section, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany
Institute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Julia Boike
Permafrost Research Section, Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Potsdam, Germany
Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Cited
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Impact of Salinity on Ground Ice Distribution Across an Arctic Coastal Polygonal Tundra Environment B. Dafflon et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.70008
- Deep learning segmentation of soil constituents in 3D X-ray CT images M. Phalempin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117321
- Characterizing the microstructure of icy lunar regolith simulants using microcomputed tomography D. Ricardo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.10.019
- Frozen Soil Characterization via X-Ray Computed Tomography: A Review M. Liew https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104965
- Collapse–subsidence retrogressive thaw slumps in degrading permafrost: multi-source insights from the Northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau S. Qi et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-026-02695-z
- Characterization of the 1966 Camp Century subglacial core: a multiscale analysis C. Collins et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1359-2025
- Pore-structure evolution and microscopic residual-oil distribution following polymer flooding in the Daqing reservoirs, Songliao Basin S. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2026.2687729
- Microstructure and geochemical properties of modern and buried soils and hosting permafrost sediments of the Batagay retrogressive thaw slump A. Lupachev et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2024.58
- Root traits of different wheat cultivars influence soil structure: an X-ray computed tomography and root morphology study B. Dimattia et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117349
- A prototype field-to-publication data system for a multi-variable permafrost observation network N. Brown et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106006
- Ground ice estimation in permafrost samples using industrial computed tomography and multi-sensor core logging and comparison to destructive measurements M. Roustaei et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4259-2025
- Temperature and strain rate dependence of frozen fine-grained rock infilling: Implications for permafrost slope stability B. Honarvar Sedighian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104665
- Brief communication: Limitations of medical X-ray computed tomography for estimating ice content in permafrost samples M. Roustaei et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5265-2026
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Impact of Salinity on Ground Ice Distribution Across an Arctic Coastal Polygonal Tundra Environment B. Dafflon et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.70008
- Deep learning segmentation of soil constituents in 3D X-ray CT images M. Phalempin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117321
- Characterizing the microstructure of icy lunar regolith simulants using microcomputed tomography D. Ricardo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2025.10.019
- Frozen Soil Characterization via X-Ray Computed Tomography: A Review M. Liew https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2026.104965
- Collapse–subsidence retrogressive thaw slumps in degrading permafrost: multi-source insights from the Northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau S. Qi et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-026-02695-z
- Characterization of the 1966 Camp Century subglacial core: a multiscale analysis C. Collins et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1359-2025
- Pore-structure evolution and microscopic residual-oil distribution following polymer flooding in the Daqing reservoirs, Songliao Basin S. Zhu et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/10916466.2026.2687729
- Microstructure and geochemical properties of modern and buried soils and hosting permafrost sediments of the Batagay retrogressive thaw slump A. Lupachev et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2024.58
- Root traits of different wheat cultivars influence soil structure: an X-ray computed tomography and root morphology study B. Dimattia et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117349
- A prototype field-to-publication data system for a multi-variable permafrost observation network N. Brown et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106006
- Ground ice estimation in permafrost samples using industrial computed tomography and multi-sensor core logging and comparison to destructive measurements M. Roustaei et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4259-2025
- Temperature and strain rate dependence of frozen fine-grained rock infilling: Implications for permafrost slope stability B. Honarvar Sedighian et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104665
- Brief communication: Limitations of medical X-ray computed tomography for estimating ice content in permafrost samples M. Roustaei et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5265-2026
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 26 Sep 2026
Short summary
The microstructure of permafrost soils contains clues to its formation and its preconditioning to future change. We used X-ray computed tomography (CT) to measure the composition of a permafrost drill core from Siberia. By combining CT with laboratory measurements, we determined the the proportions of pore ice, excess ice, minerals, organic matter, and gas contained in the core at an unprecedented resolution. Our work demonstrates the potential of CT to study permafrost properties and processes.
The microstructure of permafrost soils contains clues to its formation and its preconditioning...