Unfortunately, we missed the chance for a better scenario several years ago.
But hey – have a consolation prize.
A little chocolate to sweeten your naivety?
Take a look at a more realistic level.
Oh – you still believe in a perfect world?
Did you really think there was a better scenario?
You dreamer, you.
Unfortunately, we can’t turn back time.
The past is gone for good.
Can’t handle reality?
It’s okay – we’ve got something to help you.
Permafrost, the layer of ground in mountain regions that remains frozen year-round, becomes thinner as temperatures rise.
Heat only penetrates slowly into deeper layers, which delays the effect to some extent. Snowfall also plays a role: snow acts as insulation. No snow in winter leads to colder soils – that’s good for permafrost. Early snowfall on still-warm ground, however, traps heat – that’s bad for permafrost.
Where soil layers that have been frozen for centuries or even millennia thaw, new organisms emerge: bacteria, viruses, and fungi with largely unknown characteristics.
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Changes in permafrost affect subsurface groundwater flows. continue to Water Balance
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There are carbon stocks in soils above the treeline that could suddenly be released. continue to CO₂ Balance
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As permafrost thaws, mountain slopes lose stability. This leads to more landslides and rockfalls. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards
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Heat has a direct impact on the extent and temperature of permafrost deposits. back to Heat
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Without an insulating snow cover in winter, soils cool again – that’s good for permafrost. But if snow is lacking in spring or melts early, soils warm – that’s bad for permafrost. back to Drought
Warmer soils activate microorganisms and allow plants to expand into new, higher areas.
But permafrost holds our mountains together. As soils thaw and ice melts, slopes lose stability: landslides, rockfalls, and debris flows become more frequent.
In addition, pollutants are released from soils and ice into water bodies – aluminium, nickel, manganese, fluoride, and mercury.
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Meltwater from thawing permafrost can contaminate water courses and drinking water sources with pollutants. continue to Water Balance
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As soils in permafrost regions warm, they increasingly become a CO₂ source as stored carbon is released. To what extent this can be offset by increased plant growth remains uncertain. continue to CO₂ Balance
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The warming of permafrost leads to a loosening of the subsoil, further increasing the risk of debris flows and rockfalls. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards
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Heat warms permafrost, leading to increased ground collapse and reduced slope stability. back to Heat
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Due to the missing insulating snow layer, even high in the mountains, permafrost warms at depth – albeit with some delay. back to Drought
The alpine landscape is changing.
Warming not only reduces slope stability, but also alters subsurface properties, leading to more frequent and more intense ground movements. Where the ground suddenly subsides because melting ice reduces its volume, thermokarst sinkholes form – a phenomenon usually only seen in Arctic regions. A process that took thousands of years is being reversed within just a few.
The impacts of the organisms and substances being released as part of this process cannot be predicted.
Have you seen the film The Thing?
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Thawing permafrost can redirect or alter groundwater flows, with far-reaching consequences for water availability and spring quality. continue to Water Balance
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The expansion of plants into former permafrost areas can lead to the storage of new carbon in the soil, which could have a positive effect on the CO₂ balance. continue to CO₂ Balance
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Permafrost thaw can fundamentally alter subsurface stability. Debris flows and landslides may reach enormous dimensions. continue to Gravitational Natural Hazards
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Permafrost areas shrink dramatically, affecting subsoil stability and entire ecosystems. back to Heat
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Snow-poor winters combined with extreme heat lead to massive permafrost warming. back to Drought
That's it. RIP.
That's a bit too much.
Maybe go down a level?
Got it – you're really into extremes.
Game over.
Try a different level.
That extreme? You’ll find the matching soundtrack here.
We’re done with this planet.
On to the next!
Solutionsfor: Permafrost
Monitoring and interactive maps of permafrost distribution and carbon stocks help identify vulnerable areas and support adaptation to ongoing changes.
There are also projects aimed at actively cooling the ground using solar-powered pumps or thermosiphons.