Aplicación de tomografías de resistividad eléctrica para delinear la hidrogeología del permafrost en el área de la cabecera del río Amarillo en Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, suroeste de China

Hydrogeologic processes and shallow subsurface flows control runoff generation, groundwater dynamics, and permafrost distribution at high latitudes and elevations. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) can effectively delineate the frozen and thawed zones in the cold environment and can be applied in permafrost hydrogeology by measuring the differences in subsurface electrical potential. A combined approach of ERT and borehole measurements is implemented to map the flow paths of the supra-permafrost and sub-permafrost waters around the Wanlong Worma Lake (WWL) basin in the headwaters of the Yellow River (northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China). The ERT sounding results are further validated using drilling records and measured data on ground temperatures and groundwater level. Then, basic features for permafrost hydrogeology are outlined according to the ERT sounding, vegetation distribution, and geological data in the WWL basin. The results show the presence of permafrost at depths up to 15 m, in which electrical resistivity is u003e250 Ωm. Below the permafrost (at depth 15–80 m), electrical resistivity is generally