In Alaska, soil in permafrost regions is warming the fastest

by Shawn Vestal, Washington State University

edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan

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Add as preferred source Credit: CC0 Public Domain Soils are warming quickly and at considerable depth across Alaska, with temperatures rising fastest in the state's permafrost region, a trend that could accelerate climate change and undermine the stability of roads, buildings and other infrastructure built on the continuously frozen ground.

That's a central finding of new research from Washington State University that provides a comprehensive look at soil temperatures from 1997 to 2023 in a state where the effects of climate change are pronounced. The warming permafrost is of particular concern because when that ground thaws, it releases carbon dioxide and methane, driving even faster warming.