Permafrost Degradation: Mechanisms, Effects, and (Im)Possible Remediation

Doriane Baillarget and Gianvito Scaringi ()
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Doriane Baillarget: Institute of Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology and Applied Geophysics, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Gianvito Scaringi: Institute of Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology and Applied Geophysics, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-27

Abstract: Permafrost degradation, driven by the thawing of ground ice, results in the progressive thinning and eventual loss of the permafrost layer. This process alters hydrological and ecological systems by increasing surface and subsurface water flow, changing vegetation density, and destabilising the ground. The thermal and hydraulic conductivity of permafrost are strongly temperature-dependent, both increasing as the soil warms, thereby accelerating thaw. In addition, thawing permafrost releases large quantities of greenhouse gases, establishing a feedback loop in which global warming both drives and is intensified by permafrost loss. This paper reviews the mechanisms and consequences of permafrost degradation, including reductions in strength and enhanced deformability, which induce landslides and threaten the structural integrity of foundations and critical infrastructure. Permafrost has been investigated and modelled extensively, and various approaches have been devised to address the consequences of thawing permafrost on communities and the built environment. Some techniques focus on keeping the ground frozen via insulation, while others propose local replacement of permafrost with more stable materials. However, given the scale and pace of current changes, systematic remediation appears unfeasible. This calls for increased efforts towards adaptation, informed by interdisciplinary research.

Keywords: permafrost; climate change; hydraulic conductivity; thermal conductivity; permafrost degradation; landslide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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