Disappearing lakes and AI are helping scientists map Arctic permafrost thaw in near-real time
Thermokarst ponds, or trough ponds, typically form when the ice in permafrost melts. They can also drain quickly. Anna Liljedahl Florida gets a lot of attention for its sinkholes , especially when they swallow cars and entire houses. But its sinkhole risk has nothing on Alaska’s. Much of Alaska’s s…
Résumé
What is permafrost
Permafrost is ground that stays frozen at 0°C (32°F) or below for at least two years in a row.
It is common in Alaska and other Arctic regions, where the soil often contains ice.
When this ice melts due to rising temperatures, the ground can collapse, creating sinkholes similar to those in Florida but on a much larger scale.
Permafrost thaw is happening more frequently across the Arctic because temperatures there are rising at two to three times the global average rate.
This thawing poses risks to infrastructure like buildings, roads, and pipelines, which may sink or become damaged as the ground beneath them shifts.
For example, the Seward Peninsula in Alaska has seen substantial property damage from such collapses.
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