Climate change: the Permafrost warmed in the world

January 16, 2019

climate change leaves considerable traces in the permafrost soils. According to the Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI) increased their temperature, between 2007 and 2016, an average of 0.3 degrees Celsius. Particularly strong is the permanently frozen ground is heated, therefore in the Russian Siberia, and by nearly one degree Celsius.

The scientists from Bremerhaven, Germany, published their findings in the journal Nature Communications, was led by researches in the framework of a large-scale international long-term study. The project was led by the permafrost network, GTN-P, a total of more than 50 research groups from 26 States were involved. The AWI experts about drilled in permafrost zones around the world 154 holes and fitted with measuring devices. In this way, they observed the temperature development over a period of ten years – and noticed an almost area-wide warming.

the researchers registered not only in Siberia, but also in other Arctic regions and the Antarctic and the high mountains of Europe and Asia, sometimes significant increases. “All these data show us that the Permafrost is heated only locally and regionally, but worldwide, and almost in time with the climate warming,” said AWI permafrost expert Guido Grosse.

For Thousands of years frozen

Currently, approximately one-sixth of the entire surface of the earth is regarded as a permafrost area. The ground is partially frozen for Thousands of years. He thaws, threatening problems for people and the environment. Among other things, buildings and roads can be unstable.

In the several hundred Meter-thick permafrost layers of the Arctic, huge amounts of biomass are also since the last ice age from dead plants preserved. Once you thaw, it starts the decomposition, and additional greenhouse gas is released.

The Thawing of permafrost soils is also considered as a possible tipping point in the global climate system. Are meant to be feedback effects, which all could make the global warming in excess of certain Thresholds, in spite of human efforts and counter-measures irreversible.

More backgrounds to global warming, to climate protection and policy read on our topics page.

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