Between April 21–25, 2025, Răzvan Popescu joined a field campaign in the Detunata and Parâng Mountains, focusing on low-altitude permafrost sites — unique indicators of past and present climate conditions.
These permafrost features are natural archives of past winter temperature and precipitation patterns. During winter, the ground in these areas becomes significantly overcooled, forming a cold reservoir. In spring and early summer, this reservoir is replenished as meltwater from snow and rainfall refreezes underground. This recurring freeze-thaw cycle leads to the formation of distinct features known as ice holes, which are characteristic of such permafrost environments.
The fieldwork aimed to better understand these processes through a variety of methods:
- Mapping ice holes to document their spatial distribution.
- Performing thermal surveys using both handheld thermal cameras and drone-mounted sensors, offering detailed insights into ground temperature patterns.
- Retrieving data from long-term monitoring equipment, including borehole loggers and an ultrasonic anemometer, which provide valuable information on subsurface temperatures, wind patterns, and microclimatic conditions.
This research contributes to a better understanding of how low-altitude permafrost systems respond to climate variability, offering important clues about the resilience and sensitivity of mountain environments in the face of ongoing climate change.
