Permafrost Borehole Data from the Inner Tien Shan

Borehole permafrost data from the Inner Tien Shan mountains in Kazakhstan, collected by the Kazakhstan Alpine Permafrost Laboratory starting in 1986. The dataset includes temperature measurements from over 40 boreholes across altitudes of 3300-4200 m, with depths ranging from 30 to 600 m, supplemented by soil property measurements from 15 pits and high-frequency ground temperature readings from two sites. These observations are presented on the CAPS Version 1.0 CD-ROM from June 1998.

Use Cases

• Modeling permafrost thermal state and active layer dynamics using borehole temperature measurements from depths up to 600 m.
• Analyzing the relationship between soil properties (grain size, moisture content, thermal conductivity) and ground temperature in alpine environments.
• Investigating microclimatic influences on near-surface ground temperature using correlated hourly measurements of air temperature and wind velocity.
• Assessing geocryological conditions for engineering projects, using data from boreholes situated within the 'Kumtor' goldmine territory.
• Studying cryogenic structure and seasonal thaw depth variation across different altitudinal levels and exposures from pit data.

Strengths

• Long-term observational record initiated in 1986, providing a multi-decade context for permafrost studies.
• Spatial diversity across more than 40 boreholes spanning a 40 km transect and altitudes from 3300 to 4200 meters.
• Multi-faceted data collection includes not only temperature but also soil moisture, thermal conductivity, grain size, and cryogenic structure from 15 pits.
• High-temporal-resolution subsurface temperature measurements at two sites, recorded hourly during daylight hours over a two-year period.

Limitations

• The exact row count and dataset size are not specified on any platform.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date, with one listing 1995-03-29 and another 2026-03-13, creating uncertainty about metadata maintenance.
• Column names are not provided, limiting immediate understanding of the data structure.

Provenance

Source

Kazakhstan Alpine Permafrost Laboratory

Collection Method

Field measurements from boreholes, prospecting adits (tunnels), and soil pits; thermal conductivity determined by cylindrical sounding method.

Time Range

1986 onward (with specific high-frequency measurements over a two-year period)

Freshness

2026-03-13 07:45:14.709140

Geography

Inner Tien Shan, Kazakhstan, specifically the Kumtor and Taragai valleys and four neighboring valleys.