Articles | Volume 20, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4277-2026
© Author(s) 2026. 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-20-4277-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
07 Aug 2026
Research article |
| 07 Aug 2026
| 07 Aug 2026
Assessing spatial heterogeneity of active layer thickness over Arctic-foothills tundra, North Slope Alaska
Jinyang Du
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
K. Arthur Endsley
Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
Kazem Bakian Dogaheh
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 481019, USA
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
John S. Kimball
Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
Mahta Moghaddam
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Thomas A. Douglas
U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Fort Wainwright, AK, 99703, USA
Asem Melebari
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Sepehr Eskandari
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Jinhyuk E. Kim
Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
Jane Whitcomb
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Yuhuan Zhao
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
Sophia Henze
Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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Short summary
Active layer thickness (ALT) is a sensitive indicator of the thawing Alaskan frozen soil, which may lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, vegetation changes, and infrastructure damage. This study represents a multi-scale assessment of ALT spatial variations using observations including intensive field sampling, and drone, airborne and satellite remote sensing. Our study allows for improved interpretation of remote sensing and process-based ALT simulations for the changing Arctic.
Active layer thickness (ALT) is a sensitive indicator of the thawing Alaskan frozen soil, which...
