permafrost

[pur-muh-frawst, -frost]

noun

1. (in Arctic or subarctic regions) perennially frozen subsoil.

permafrost

/ ˈpɜːməˌfrɒst /

noun

1. ground that is permanently frozen, often to great depths, the surface sometimes thawing in the summer

permafrost

1. A layer of soil or bedrock that has been continuously frozen for at least two years and as long as tens of thousands of years. Permafrost can reach depths of up to 1,524 m (4,999 ft). It is found throughout most of the polar regions and underlies about one fifth of the Earth's land surface.

Word History and Origins

Origin of permafrost¹

First recorded in 1943; perma(nent) + frost

Word History and Origins

Origin of permafrost¹

C20: from _perma ( _nent ) + _frost

Example Sentences

Canada and Russia, where large amounts of ice and permafrost are melting, are losing the most fresh water.

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"The thawing of permafrost at very high elevation led to the collapse of the summit," he explains.

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Climate change is causing the glaciers - frozen rivers of ice - to melt faster and faster, and the permafrost, often described as the glue that holds the high mountains together, is also thawing.

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Should global warming cause the thick Arctic permafrost to thaw, the vault is still robust enough to preserve its contents he says.

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There are still the thawing permafrost and melting ice sheets to take into account.

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