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

/ pûr′mə-frôst′ /

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

Though DNA degrades into shorter strings of genetic material over time, making it difficult to handle and piece together, cold permafrost helps to protect genetic information from rapidly falling apart.

From Science News

The most loving thing I ever saw my father do for my mother was getting up before dawn in the permafrost of February to warm up her car.

From Time

Thawing that permafrost will now release a large share of that carbon into the air, she adds, “which can create additional climate change.”

From Science News For Students

“The amount of carbon that is stored in permafrost is immense,” Neilson notes.

From Science News For Students

Sagging permafrost led to the tank spilling oil, which polluted the Ambarnaya River.

From Science News For Students

I was sitting so low, even the permafrost-stunted spruce trees towered over me.

From The Daily Beast

I wondered what would happen to the trees if some of the permafrost melted, allowing roots to expand in longer growing seasons.

From The Daily Beast

The reason: frozen permafrost that once contained the lake water (like cement contains a swimming pool) had melted.

From The Daily Beast