Ground ice map of Canada

The mapping depicts a first-order estimate of the combined volumetric percentage of excess ice in the top 5 m of permafrost from segregated, wedge, and relict ice. The estimates for the three ice types are based on modelling by O'Neill et al. (2019) (https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-753-2019), and informed by available published values of ground ice content and expert knowledge. The mapping offers an improved depiction of ground ice in Canada at a broad scale, incorporating current knowledge on the associations between geological and environmental conditions and ground ice type and abundance. It provides a foundation for hypothesis testing related to broad-scale controls on ground ice formation, preservation, and melt.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field	Value
Last Updated	April 17, 2026, 19:16 (UTC)
Created	April 17, 2026, 19:16 (UTC)
contact_email	nrcan.gsc-geosciencedata-donneesgeoscience-cgc.rncan@canada.ca
contact_person	{"en": "Government of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Geological Survey of Canada - GSC Northern Canada,Government of Canada; Natural Resources Canada; Geological Survey of Canada,hughbrendan.oneill@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca,nrcan.gsc-geosciencedata-donneesgeoscience-cgc.rncan@canada.ca", "fr": "Gouvernement du Canada; Ressources naturelles Canada; Commission géologique du Canada - CGC Nord du Canada,Gouvernement du Canada; Ressources naturelles Canada; Commission géologique du Canada,hughbrendan.oneill@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca,nrcan.gsc-geosciencedata-donneesgeoscience-cgc.rncan@canada.ca"}
criticality_level	[]
data_dictionary	EPSG: 3978,http://www.epsg-registry.org/,6.14
geographic_scope	[]
open_canada_collection	fgp
open_canada_date_published	2022-07-13 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords	{"en": ["wedge ice", "segregated ice", "Ground ice", "relict ice", "Permafrost"], "fr": ["glace de fente en coin", "glace de ségrégation", "Glace de sol", "glace relictuelle", "Pergélisol"]}
open_canada_subject	["form_descriptors", "nature_and_environment", "science_and_technology"]
sensitivity_level	unrestricted
title_fr	Carte de la glace de sol du Canada
update_frequency	as_needed