Current Status of Permafrost Degradation

Permafrost, the permanently frozen ground is defined as any type of ground-from soil to sediment to rock- that remains at or below 0° C for at least two consecutive years. At present, permafrost occurs on one quarter of the exposed land surfaces of the earth, but the permafrost extent and its estimate have been changing rapidly. Under warming climate permafrost has been degrading extensively, persistently and rapidly. This degradation of permafrost has resulted in profound hydrological, ecological and socio-economic consequences. To sustainably develop resources in the cold regions while prudently protect the permafrost environment under constantly changing climate, we need to design and manage our environmental and engineering projects by creative and innovative thinking and with rapidly improving technologies. The paper mainly focuses on understanding the meaning and the extent of permafrost, the changing permafrost environment, the impacts of thawing permafrost and proactively adapting to and effective management of these rapidly changing cold regions environment with the latest technologies.