Summary
Permafrost, both in the arctic and in lower latitude mountainous regions, is particularly sensitive to global warming because where ground temperatures are close to zero just a small increase in temperature can cause thawing of ground ice. The potential impact of such thawing includes subsidence in arctic lowlands and slope instability in mountains, with an increasing risk of landslides. The response of ground temperatures to climate change is complicated, however, by the complex ground surface boundary layer that includes vegetation and snow-cover. For instance, a reduction in winter snow cover might, in certain circumstances, lead to ground cooling and permafrost advance, as the ground is less insulated from low winter air temperatures. Thus, predicting the response of permafrost regions to climate change is a challenging scientific problem, but one that demands attention since permafrost degradation will have major impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, landscape stability, and on buildings in populated regions. In addition, an increase in active-layer thickness and temperature in arctic lowlands will result in an increased carbon turn-over and as a consequence, higher greenhouse gas fluxes to the atmosphere. Given that global climate models predict significant warming through the 21st century, with the greatest temperature increases at high latitudes and altitudes, co-ordinated interdisciplinary research on the likely effects in permafrost regions is urgently needed. A number of European and global programmes are underway, and this Network will interact with these programmes and co-ordinate existing research to meet the requirement for widespread continuous monitoring of permafrost regions embracing a large number of observing points.
Duration
From 2003 to 2005
