What Scientists Are Learning From Melting Permafrost
• Melting permafrost releases significant amounts of carbon and methane, accelerating global warming.
• Thawing permafrost destabilizes the ground, leading to infrastructure damage and ecosystem changes.
• Scientists are using various methods to study the effects of melting permafrost and inform climate policy.
Melting Permafrost: An alarming rate of thawing
Permafrost, ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, covers vast swathes of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. As global temperatures rise due to climate change, this once-stable ground is thawing at an alarming rate, unleashing a cascade of environmental and societal consequences that scientists are only beginning to fully understand.
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