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Permafrost thaw and degradation threaten circumpolar infrastructure. This Review documents observed and projected infrastructure impacts, as well as the mitigation strategies available to minimize them.
Permafrost thaw is directly governed by the thermal characteristics of the frozen ground. This Review outlines the status of and mechanisms influencing the thermal state of permafrost, revealing widespread increases in permafrost temperatures and active-layer thicknesses.
Lakes and drained lake basins are the most prominent periglacial landforms in northern high-latitude lowland regions, and their dynamics impact permafrost, ecosystem and biogeochemical processes. This Review discusses the influence and consequences of climate change on lake systems.
Arctic coasts are increasingly affected by erosion and flooding, owing to decreasing sea ice, thawing permafrost and rising sea levels. This Review examines the changes in Arctic coastal morphodynamics and discusses the broader impacts on Arctic systems.
Subglacial lakes modify glacial conditions and flow. This Review provides a first global inventory of subglacial lakes, as well as outlining their settings, impacts and potential changes with climate warming.
