Permafrost May Thaw Far Faster than Expected and Accelerate Climate Change

Troubling scenes from an Arctic in full-tilt crisis

The Arctic island of Svalbard is so reliably frigid that humanity bet its future on the place. Since 2008, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault — set deep in frozen soil known as permafrost — has accepted nearly 1.4 million samples of more than 6,000 species of critical crops. But, the island is warming six to seven times faster than the rest of the planet, making even winters freakishly hot, at least by Arctic standards. Indeed, in 2017, an access tu…

Permafrost may thaw far faster than expected and accelerate climate change

Data from two Arctic sites suggest some surface layers are no longer freezing. If that continues, greenhouse gases from permafrost could accelerate climate change.

What Happens If The Arctic Permafrost Melts?

You've likely heard of the permafrost, but what exactly does it do, and what are the consequences if it melts? Here are some key things you should know.