Permafrost

Permafrost or perennially frozen ground is defined as ground which remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years. In the Northern Hemisphere, the permafrost regions occupy approximately 23 million square kilometres (24%), with actual permafrost areas underlying between an estimated 12 and 17 million square kilometers, or approximately 12 to 18 % of the exposed land area (areas beneath ice sheets and ice caps are not included in this estimate), principally at high latitudes. In the Southern Hemisphere, permafrost underlies some 100 to 150 thousand square kilometres in the Andes mountains of South America and an estimated 49 thousand square kilometres beneath ice-free land south of 60^oS latitude. A key characteristic of permafrost is the presence of ice in the ground. The ice occurs in a variety of forms and often in large masses of relatively pure ice. 

Permafrost affects a wide range of ecosystems, landscapes and issues related to natural hazards and engineering construction work. Because of this broad interest, the all new permafrost research initiatives are coordinated and results communicated by an international organisation, the International Permafrost Association (IPA), with members from all nations with permafrost research interest in Arctic, Antarctic or Alpine environments.

The presence of permafrost is a primary factor hydrologically distinguishing Arctic from temperate watersheds. In summer, only the topmost 0.5-2 m of ground thaw. Since the water cannot readily drain away, this seasonally thawed layer (the active layer) often remains waterlogged for extended periods. In context of the climate change issue, it is of importance to investigate the thermal response of the active layer and near-surface permafrost to seasonal and climatic change. The active layer, vegetation cover, organic mat, and seasonal snow-cover all act as a buffer between the atmosphere and the permafrost. Although the active layer in most cases is quite shallow (0.5-2 m), it plays a crucial role in arctic hydrology, because most of the water that is available for plants moves either over or through this layer (Kane and Hinzmann 1988; Woo et al. 1992; Brown et al. 2000). By this, the active layer is of paramount importance for all terrestrial biological and geomorphic activity in the Arctic . Since trace gas emissions from tundra areas depend on the active layer thickness, an increased depth of summer thaw could result in carbon loss from the arctic ecosystems, providing a potential positive feedback for carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere (Oechel et al. 1993).

Present distribution of permafrost in the northern hemisphere according to the International Permafrost Association (IPA). The different colours indicate different types of permafrost, ice content, etc. Click here for a larger map.