Permafrost Dynamics and Impacts - Western Canada

Permafrost Change in the Mackenzie River Basin, Canada – permafrost is ground that remains continually frozen for years, and is a fundamental characteristic of cold regions that is a dominant influence on polar ecosystems. At its southernmost limit, permafrost has been thawing over recent decades and leaves behind soggy, warmer conditions that affect vegetation and greenhouse gas emissions – this permafrost disappears quickly, but conditions can persist for many decades. A number of ongoing projects, coordinated through the Canadian Forest Service, use remote sensing and paleoscience methods to determine the recent sensitivity and future trajectory of permafrost change.