Brief communication: On the potential of dual-coil frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) systems to detect frozen layers in mountain permafrost environments

Frequency Domain Electromagnetic (FDEM) methods are still rarely applied in mountain permafrost environments, such as rock glaciers. Here, we test a separable dual-coil FDEM system at four alpine permafrost sites and compare the results with Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), the most commonly used geophysical method applied in these environments. The comparison shows that FDEM can reproduce key subsurface features identified by ERT and highlights the potential of separable dual-coil FDEM systems for a straightforward, preliminary, first-order assessment of subsurface structures in mountain permafrost environments.

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Publication Details

Journal
˜The œcryosphere
Published
2026-09-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5393-2026
Primary Topic
Climate change and permafrost
Type
article
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article

Brief communication: On the potential of dual-coil frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) systems to detect frozen layers in mountain permafrost environments

Mirko Pavoni, Mauro Guglielmin, Jacopo Boaga, Giorgio Cassiani et al.
˜The œcryosphere
Climate change and permafrost
article

Brief communication: On the potential of dual-coil frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) systems to detect frozen layers in mountain permafrost environments

Mirko Pavoni, Mauro Guglielmin, Jacopo Boaga, Giorgio Cassiani, Emanuele Forte, Alexander Bast, Stefano Ponti, Alberto Carrera, Luca Peruzzo, Simone Peracchi
article en

Abstract

Frequency Domain Electromagnetic (FDEM) methods are still rarely applied in mountain permafrost environments, such as rock glaciers. Here, we test a separable dual-coil FDEM system at four alpine permafrost sites and compare the results with Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), the most commonly used geophysical method applied in these environments. The comparison shows that FDEM can reproduce key subsurface features identified by ERT and highlights the potential of separable dual-coil FDEM systems for a straightforward, preliminary, first-order assessment of subsurface structures in mountain permafrost environments.

˜The œcryosphereVol. 20(9)
University of Insubria (IT), University of Padua (IT), University of Trieste (IT), Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos (CH), Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies (US), WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (CH)
Openalex Percentile: Top 15%
Climate change and permafrost
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Brief communication: On the potential of dual-coil frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) systems to detect frozen layers in mountain permafrost environments — Mirko Pavoni, Mauro Guglielmin, et al. · ˜The œcryosphere (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS