The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $456,314 Project Grant under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to the University of Wisconsin System, through its University of Wisconsin - Madison division, for a project titled "COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: A UNIFIED PORE WATER PRESSURE-BASED PARADIGM FOR QUANTIFYING UNFROZEN WATER IN FROZEN SOIL." The project aims to develop a new theoretical framework and practical predictive relationships for modeling soil freezing and thawing behavior, which is critical for understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change-driven melting of Arctic ice and permafrost. The project will focus on clarifying fundamental relationships among soil water potential, soil water retention, and soil water freezing/thawing for a range of soil types and pore fluid chemistries. The research outcomes will include generalized closed-form equations for modeling soil freezing and thawing curves, as well as practical predictive relationships to estimate soil freezing and thawing behavior from fundamental soil properties. The project will also incorporate education and outreach initiatives, such as a summer student exchange program and a continuing education webinar series.
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