Permafrost

Geologists define permafrost as soil layers or rock and soil combinations that remain frozen (i.e., remain below the specific freezing temperature unique to the exact constituents of the formation) for a time period in excess of two years. The exact composition of permafrost can vary widely depending on the unique geology and morphology of the area in which the perafrost forms. Although ice is usually a component of permafrost (e.g., ranging from 5% to 35% of the composition), contrary to popular assumptions, permafrost may contain few water ice crystals.

About 20% of Earth's surface is covered by permafrost. Permafrost occurs at high latitudes, or at very high altitudes, anywhere the mean annual soil temperature is below freezing. About half of Canada and Russia, much of northern China, most of Greenland and Alaska, and probably all of Antarctica are underlain by permafrost. Areas underlain by permafrost are classified as belonging to either the continuous zone or the discontinuous zone. Permafrost occurs everywhere within the continuous zone, except under large bodies of water, and underlies the discontinuous zone in irregular zones of varying size. Fairbanks, Alaska, lies within the discontinuous zone, while Greenland is in the continuous zone.

The surface layer of soil in a permafrost zone may thaw during the warmer months, and the upper layer of the frozen zone is known as the permafrost table. Like the water table, it may rise and fall according to environmental conditions. When the surface layer thaws, it often becomes waterlogged because the meltwater can only permeate slowly, or not at all, into the frozen layer below. Partial melting coupled with irregular drainage leads to the creation of hummocky topography. Walking on permafrost is extremely difficult, because the surface is spongy, irregular, and often wet. Waterlogging of the surface layer also causes slopes in permafrost areas to be unstable and prone to failure.

Permafrost provides a stable base for construction only if the ground remains frozen. Unfortunately, construction often warms the ground, thawing the upper layers. Special care must be taken when building in permafrost regions, and structures are often elevated above the land surface on stilts. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline, along much of its length, is elevated on artificially cooled posts, and communities in permafrost regions often must place pipes and wires in above-ground conduits rather than burying them. Even roads can contribute to warming and thawing of permafrost, and are generally built atop a thick bed of gravel and dirt.

In addition developing special techniques to assure the stability of structures built in permafrost areas, a number of scientific studies are currently centered on understanding potential relationships between carbon trapping and release associated with permafrost formation and melting to long-term global warming and cooling cycles.