Soil electrical properties modified by freezing Determining the time of occurrence and depth of soil freezing are useful in assessing runoff from fields, the depth at which city pipes should be buried, and the potential for flooding in northern regions.
Computer programs are available that attempt to predict whether soils are frozen.
Frozen soils can also be assessed using the standard frost tube, an instrument requiring human intervention. The electrical potential of soil changes as ice replaces water in the porous structure of soils. An automated instrument that continuously monitors the electrical potential of soils without human intervention was developed and used to assess whether soils were frozen. Conservationists, meteorologists, hydrologists, and engineers may be able to utilize this instrument to assess in real-time whether soils are frozen. Real-time information on soil freezing will allow action agencies such as the National Weather Service to better forecast the potential for flooding of major rivers.