Direct current resistivity and ground penetrating radar surveys were employed to obtain the value of the resistivity and dielectric constant in the brine near the Barrow, Alaska. The geophysical surveys were undertaken together with the permafrost drilling program for the measuring of the ground temperature regime and for the core sampling. The sampled cores were measured for their physical and chemical properties in the laboratory under different temperature conditions (-60 to 20 ℃). Laboratory results support field observations and led to the development of a technique for distinguishing freshwater taliks and brine layers in permafrost. These methods were also employed in freshwater taliks near Council,Alaska. The electrical resistivity is a powerful and sensitive parameter for brine detection. However, the resistivity is a less sensitive indicator of the soil type or water content under highly saline conditions.High frequency dielectric constant is an ideal second parameter for the indication of the soil type, liquid water content and other physical properties. The imaginary part of the dielectric constant and resistivity have a significant dependence upon salinity, i.e. upon freezing temperature. The ground temperature regime and the freezing point of the brine layer are important parameters for studying the electric properties of permafrost terrain.