The volume of ice in the ground that exceeds the total pore volume that the ground would have under natural unfrozen conditions. Due to the presence of Ground Ice, the total water content of a frozen
soil may exceed that corresponding to its unfrozen state. In standard geotechnical terminology, a soil is considered normally consolidated when its total pore volume or its total water content is in equilibrium with the acting gravity stresses. As a result, upon thawing, a soil containing Excess Ice will settle under its own weight until it attains normal consolidation.