Permafrost

What Is Permafrost?

Permafrost is ground that stays very cold for a long time. It stays below 0 °C (32 °F) for at least two years. You can find it in very cold places like Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Siberia. Some permafrost has been frozen for hundreds of thousands of years!

Where Is Permafrost Found?

Permafrost is mostly found in the Northern Hemisphere. It is under layers of soil that freeze in winter and melt in summer. This top layer is called the active layer. In some places, the permafrost is very deep, more than 1,400 meters! It is found under soil, rock, and even underwater sediment.

How Much Permafrost Is There?

Permafrost covers about 15% of the land in the Northern Hemisphere that isn’t covered in ice. Here are some big places with lots of permafrost:

Why Do We Care About Permafrost?

Permafrost is important for our world. It holds old plants and animals that have been kept safe by the cold. But as the Earth gets warmer, some permafrost is starting to melt. This melting can change the land. It can make the ground unstable, which can affect buildings and roads. Scientists are studying permafrost to learn more about how it affects our planet and its climate change.