Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) - Tutorial Active Layer Monitoring Sites

Tutorial Active Layer Monitoring Sites

Welcome to the GTN-P Database. This tutorial explains how to add a new/edit an active layer monitoring site (grid, transect, thaw tube, borehole).

Note: presently only national correspondents can add/edit entries in the GTN-P database.

Add a new/edit Active Layer Monitoring Sites in the GTN-P Database (Version 1, 5 June 2014) Download this tutorial as PDF.

Log in with your username and password (upper right corner). To request a username and password please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

After logging in, click on the button „Annual Thaw Depths“ to access the active layer monitoring sites in the GTN-P Database.

Note: every active layer monitoring site is assigned to a site. Please check if the site your active layer monitoring site is adjuncted to, exists in the database: http://gtnpdatabase.org/sites. If not, you have to create the new site BEFORE you create the active layer monitoring site (Tutorial: Sites). The same goes for citation. Please check if the responsible person(s) and institution(s) are present in the database: List of Contacts and Organizations. If not, you have to create a new citation while creating the active layer monitoring site (Tutorial: Citations).

An overview of all existing active layer monitoring site will open, alphabetically ordered. (You can search for entries or sort entries.)

In order to add a new active layer monitoring site , click on the „Add new“ button in the upper right corner. If you want to edit an existing active layer monitoring site, click on „Edit“. Note: presently you can only edit active layer monitoring sites authorized by the country assigned to your user account. The „Add Active Layer“ page is divided into five tabs: General, Observation, Accessibility, Disturbance, and SEO. You are on the „General“ tab. Some of the metadata are marked with an asterisk which indicates mandatory metadata. All other are optional metadata, however, note that the more fields you fill out the higher your borehole will be ranked in the metadata completeness/data quality index.

Find information on the metadata in the controlled vocabulary. Site: Tutorial Sites. Responsible person/citation: Tutorial Citations. Permafrost zone. Vegetation zone.

On the right side you see a map and coordinate fields. Please enter your coordinates in decimal degree. We recommend to enter your coordinates with at least four decimals allowing only a few meters offset. (Find here an online tool to convert coordinate pairs). By clicking on „Update coordinates“ both the map and elevation will be updated on the basis of your entered coordinates.

By clicking on the single tabs you can enter information on observation (landform, lithology, and additional information of the active layer monitoring site), disturbances, and search engine optimizations.

In order to add photos and bibliographic references, you must first save the active layer monitoring site and then click on „Edit“. Now you can add pictures to the gallery (upper right corner) by clicking on „Add new“ and choosing pictures from your computer. To add references scroll all the way down to „Bibliographic References“ and click on „Add new“. Note: every reference must be added separately.