Alaskan permafrost soils are warming at a record rate, even at depths of several meters, making this region the hottest on Earth in terms of subsurface temperature. This rapid increase, detected across the entire state, compromises the solidity of infrastructure and could release significant quantities of carbon stored for millennia.
What the study reveals: Precise results and key figures
Researchers have found that soil temperatures are increasing more rapidly in permafrost zones than in non-frozen regions, even at depths previously considered negligible. Using time series data from the Copernicus mission and the ECMWF's ERA5 reanalysis, they were able to trace the thermal evolution over the past two decades, showing continuous warming both at the surface and at depths of more than one meter.
This study, published in 2026, indicates that the rate of warming of Alaskan soils exceeds that observed in most North American watersheds. The authors note that if this trend continues, the perimeter of permafrost could decrease by tens of kilometers by the end of the century, with direct consequences for transportation networks and dwellings.
Furthermore, scientists have identified a strong correlation between increases in soil temperatures and methane emissions from thawing zones, thereby strengthening the potential for positive climate feedback.