Thawing Permafrost

This book provides a cross-disciplinary overview of permafrost and the carbon cycle by providing an introduction into the geographical distribution of permafrost, with a focus on the distribution of permafrost and its soil carbon reservoirs. The chapters explain the basic physical properties and processes of permafrost soils: ice, mineral and organic components, and how these interact with climate, vegetation and geomorphological processes. In particular, Thawing Permafrost covers the role of the large quantities of ice in many permafrost soils which are crucial to understanding carbon cycle processes.

An explanation is given on how permafrost becomes loaded with ice and carbon. Gas hydrates are also introduced. Structures and processes formed by the intense freeze-thaw action in the active layer are considered (e.g. ice wedging, cryoturbation), and the processes that occur as the permafrost thaws, (pond and lake formation, erosion).

Thawing Permafrost introduces soil carbon accumulation and decomposition mechanisms and how these are modified in a permafrost environment. A separate chapter deals with deep permafrost carbon, gas reservoirs and recently discovered methane emission phenomena from regions such as Northwest Siberia and the Siberian yedoma permafrost.

Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. The energy balance of permafrost soils and ecosystems
Chapter 3. The role of ground ice
Chapter 4. Permafrost carbon quantities and fluxes
Chapter 5. Permafrost in transition
Chapter 6. Vegetation change
Chapter 7. Methane
Chapter 8. Models: Forecasting the present and future of permafrost
References
Glossary