Canadian Deep Permafrost Temperatures and Thickness Measurements

This dataset contains precision temperature measurements from approximately 150 deep wells and boreholes drilled for resource exploration in Northern Canada's permafrost regions. Collected by NASA, the data includes annual logs over 5-10 years post-drilling, showing thermal recovery, and provides permafrost thickness estimates derived from the 0°C isotherm. It was compiled on the CAPS Version 1.0 CD-ROM in June 1998.

Use Cases

• Modeling permafrost thickness by analyzing the depth of the 0°C isotherm at each site.
• Studying thermal disturbance and recovery by examining temperature time series from wells logged annually for 5-10 years.
• Mapping regional permafrost distribution using site location tables and associated small-scale maps.
• Calibrating satellite-derived land surface temperature data with in-situ borehole temperature measurements.
• Analyzing the relationship between drilling activity and subsurface thermal regime over time.

Strengths

• Contains high-quality measurements from approximately 150 deep wells, focusing on precision data while excluding lower-quality commercial logs.
• Provides multi-year temporal coverage, with most holes logged annually for 5-10 years to capture thermal recovery.
• Includes supplementary materials like a 2000-word text, site location tables, permafrost thickness tables, small-scale maps, and an extensive bibliography.
• Uses multiple measurement methods including thermistor probes, multi-thermistor cables, and, in the 1990s, an automatic quasi-continuous logging system.

Limitations

• Specific row counts, file sizes, and a complete column schema are not provided by any source.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' metadata: Data.gov lists 2026-03 13, while NASA Earthdata lists 1997-12-31, suggesting possible metadata errors.
• The dataset is from a 1998 CD-ROM release, so the core measurement period likely precedes this date.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Measurements taken by lowering thermistor probes or installing multi-thermistor cables in wells drilled for natural resource exploration.

Time Range

Data collection spans at least 5-10 years of annual logging per hole, with some logging occurring in the 1990s.

Freshness

1997-12-31

Geography

Permafrost regions of Northern Canada.