Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Network Data Archive

A network of approximately 200 sites provides standardized observations of seasonal thawing and freezing in high-latitude soils. The data archive contains all measurements submitted prior to June 5, 2012, coordinated by the SCIOPS organization. It represents a long-term program designed to detect decadal changes in permafrost dynamics.

Use Cases

• Analyze decadal trends in active_layer_depth across diverse terrain types.
• Model ground_temperature variations to validate permafrost simulation outputs.
• Correlate thaw_settlement measurements with regional climate data.
• Assess spatial variation scales of seasonal thawing using standardized protocols.

Strengths

• Approximately 200 coordinated monitoring sites using standard protocols.
• Long-term time series designed for detecting decadal-scale changes.
• Measurements taken across diverse terrain types and regions.

Limitations

• Data collection ended in 2012, limiting analysis of recent trends.
• Specific row counts, file sizes, and column details are unknown.
• Geographic coverage is limited to high-latitude network sites.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS organization via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

Standardized field measurements from a coordinated network of sites.

Time Range

Data submitted prior to June 5, 2012.

Freshness

Archive final update was June 5, 2012.

Geography

High-latitude regions (Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring network sites).