Potentials and Challenges of Cryoseismology with Fiber-Optic Sensing in the High Arctic: A Pilot Experiment in Hornsund, Svalbard

Abstract Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has emerged as a promising tool for environmental and cryoseismological studies, yet its performance under the extreme conditions of the high Arctic remains poorly documented. Here, we report on a multiseason DAS experiment conducted across tundra and glacier environments in Hornsund, Svalbard, using 9 km of fiber-optic cable. The study combines a description of the deployment strategy, instrumentation, and operational constraints with an exploratory analysis of the recorded data to assess the types of cryospheric processes that can be captured with DAS. We document logistical, environmental, and technical challenges and provide guidelines for future experiments, including issues related to coupling, noise sources, cable integrity, and seasonal accessibility. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the dataset can be used for detecting permafrost freezing using noise interferometry, locating icequakes and calving events, and monitoring runoff from river-induced seismic noise. The experiment provides a field-based reference for the design and interpretation of future DAS studies in Arctic environments and highlights considerations relevant for long-term cryoseismological monitoring.