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Remote Sensing
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Remote Sensing of Water Dynamics in Permafrost Regions
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Remote Sensing of Water Dynamics in Permafrost Regions

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Remote Sensing in Geology, Geomorphology and Hydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 December 2025 | Viewed by 1804

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zeyong Gao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
Interests: permafrost degradation; thermokarst processes; permafrost hydrology
Dr. Lingxiao Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geographical Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, China
Interests: permafrost degradation; radar remote sensing; permafrost hydrology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Permafrost is highly sensitive to climate change, with thaw-induced shifts in water dynamics profoundly affecting hydrology, ecosystems, and infrastructure stability. Processes such as thermokarst formation, wetland drying, and active layer deepening alter surface and subsurface water regimes. Remote sensing has become an essential tool for monitoring these changes across spatially vast and logistically challenging permafrost landscapes. With advances in satellite and UAV platforms, thermal, radar, and optical sensors now provide critical insights into freeze–thaw cycles, soil moisture, and hydrological connectivity. Understanding these dynamics is key to predicting environmental responses and supporting sustainable development in cold-region environments.

This Special Issue aims to advance the scientific understanding of water dynamics in permafrost regions by promoting innovative applications of remote sensing technologies. It seeks to highlight methodological developments, multi-sensor data integration, and new insights into hydrological processes such as surface water change, soil moisture variability, freeze–thaw transitions, and landscape–hydrology interactions. This topic aligns closely with the scope of Remote Sensing by focusing on the use of Earth observation tools to monitor and model dynamic geophysical and hydrological phenomena. Contributions will strengthen the journal’s mission to support cutting-edge research in remote sensing for environmental monitoring, geoscience, and climate-related change detection. Potential topics for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Monitoring of thermokarst lakes, ponds, wetlands, and river dynamics;
  • Remote sensing of soil moisture, active layer thickness, and ground ice melt;
  • Freeze–thaw cycle detection and seasonal snow cover mapping;
  • Detection and monitoring of thaw slumps, ice-rich permafrost degradation, and surface subsidence;
  • Hydrological connectivity and watershed-scale runoff dynamics in permafrost regions;
  • Impacts of permafrost thaw on carbon and water fluxes using remote sensing.

Dr. Zeyong Gao
Dr. Lingxiao Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • permafrost degradation
  • thermokarst processes
  • ground-ice melting
  • active layer dynamics
  • climate change impacts
  • eco-hydrological effects

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 10406 KB  
Article
Evaluating the Effectiveness of High-Frequency Ground-Penetrating Radar in Identifying Active Layer Thickness in the Da Xing’anling Mountains
by Lei Yang, Yunhu Shang, Changlei Dai, Yang Liu, Guoyu Li, Kai Gao, Yi Wu and Yiru Wei
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(20), 3484; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17203484 - 20 Oct 2025
Abstract
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR), due to its efficiency and non-invasive nature, has become an important tool for detecting the permafrost table, overcoming the limited spatial coverage and high costs associated with drilling and in situ temperature monitoring. Compared with the commonly used 50–100 MHz [...] Read more.
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR), due to its efficiency and non-invasive nature, has become an important tool for detecting the permafrost table, overcoming the limited spatial coverage and high costs associated with drilling and in situ temperature monitoring. Compared with the commonly used 50–100 MHz antennas, the potential of high-frequency antennas to improve detection accuracy and interface resolution has not been fully explored. To address this gap, this study introduces a multi-strategy interface identification method incorporating envelope analysis. Field experiments were conducted in the island-like permafrost zone of the Da Xing’anling Mountains, Heilongjiang Province, using shielded GPR systems operating at 250 MHz and 500 MHz to detect the permafrost table. Potential interfaces were extracted using centroid and edge-detection algorithms and validated against ground temperature observations. The results indicate that: (1) integrating GPR with multi-source data enables accurate estimation of active layer thickness, and the envelope-based multi-strategy approach is effective for interface identification; (2) the 250 MHz antenna is better suited for capturing broader subsurface structures, while the 500 MHz antenna provides higher resolution for shallow layers—combining the two enhances overall interpretive quality; and (3) snow cover significantly affects electromagnetic wave propagation, reducing the accuracy of radar detection. This study provides valuable guidance for engineering investigations, site selection, and foundation design in permafrost regions, contributing to improved precision and efficiency in GPR-based detection of the permafrost table. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Water Dynamics in Permafrost Regions)
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22 pages, 11631 KB  
Article
Local Surface Environmental Changes in a Basin in the Permafrost Region of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Affected by Lake Outburst Event
by Saize Zhang, Shifen Wu, Zekun Ding, Fujun Niu and Yanhu Mu
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(19), 3392; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17193392 - 9 Oct 2025
Viewed by 238
Abstract
The outburst of Zonag Lake in the permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) has significantly altered the local environment, particularly affecting surface conditions and permafrost dynamics. By employing remote sensing and GIS tools, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal variations in [...] Read more.
The outburst of Zonag Lake in the permafrost region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) has significantly altered the local environment, particularly affecting surface conditions and permafrost dynamics. By employing remote sensing and GIS tools, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal variations in surface environmental changes (surface temperature, vegetation, and dryness) within the Zonag–Salt Lake basin. The results indicate that the outburst caused higher surface temperatures and reduced vegetation cover around Zonag Lake. Analysis using the Temperature–Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) reveals higher dryness levels in downstream areas, especially from Kusai Lake to Salt Lake, compared to the upstream Zonag Lake. Temporal trends from 2000 to 2023 show a decrease in average Land Surface Temperature (LST) and an increase in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Geographical centroid shifts in environmental indices demonstrate migration patterns influenced by seasonal climate changes and the outburst event. Desertification around Zonag Lake accelerates permafrost development, while the wetting environment around Salt Lake promotes permafrost degradation. The Zonag Lake region is also an ecologically significant area, serving as a key calving ground for the Tibetan antelope (Pantholops hodgsonii), a nationally protected species. Thus, the environmental changes revealed in this study carry important implications for biodiversity conservation on the Tibetan Plateau. These findings highlight the profound impact of the Zonag Lake outburst on the surface environment and permafrost dynamics in the region, providing critical insights for understanding environmental responses to lake outbursts in high-altitude regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Water Dynamics in Permafrost Regions)
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19 pages, 20899 KB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Roadside Water Accumulation and Its Hydrothermal Impacts on Permafrost Stability: Integrating UAV and GPR
by Minghao Liu, Bingyan Li, Yanhu Mu, Jing Luo, Fei Yin and Fan Yu
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(17), 3110; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17173110 - 6 Sep 2025
Viewed by 855
Abstract
The Gonghe–Yushu Expressway (GYE) traverses the degrading permafrost region of the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, where climate warming has resulted in widespread water ponding, posing significant engineering challenges. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of this water accumulation and its impacts on permafrost embankment stability remain inadequately [...] Read more.
The Gonghe–Yushu Expressway (GYE) traverses the degrading permafrost region of the Qinghai–Xizang Plateau, where climate warming has resulted in widespread water ponding, posing significant engineering challenges. However, the spatiotemporal dynamics of this water accumulation and its impacts on permafrost embankment stability remain inadequately understood. This study integrates high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to characterize the spatial patterns of water ponding and to quantify the spatial distribution, seasonal dynamics, and hydrothermal effects of roadside water on permafrost sections of the GYE. UAV-derived point cloud models, optical 3D models, and thermal infrared imagery reveal that approximately one-third of the 228 km study section of GYE exhibits water accumulation, predominantly occurring near the embankment toe in flat terrain or poorly drained areas. Seasonal monitoring showed a nearly 90% reduction in waterlogged areas from summer to winter, closely corresponding to climatic variations. Statistical analysis demonstrated significantly higher embankment distress rates in waterlogged areas (14.3%) compared to non-waterlogged areas (5.7%), indicating a strong correlation between surface water and accelerated permafrost degradation. Thermal analysis confirmed that waterlogged zones act as persistent heat sources, intensifying permafrost thaw and consequent embankment instability. GPR surveys identified notable subsurface disturbances beneath waterlogged sections, including a significant lowering of the permafrost table under the embankment and evidence of soil loosening due to hydrothermal erosion. These findings provide valuable insights into the spatiotemporal evolution of water accumulation along transportation corridors and inform the development of climate-adaptive strategies to mitigate water-induced risks in degrading permafrost regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing of Water Dynamics in Permafrost Regions)
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