ClimateAugust 26, 2026

permafrost

PUR-muh-frawst

Definition

Ground, including rock or soil, that remains at or below the freezing point of water for two or more consecutive years.

Etymology

The word is a 20th-century compound of 'permanent' and 'frost,' coined to describe ground that stays frozen year-round.

In the news

The article describes rock glaciers as critical indicators for tracking mountain permafrost and emphasizes that the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau holds vast amounts of this frozen ground, which acts as a vital water reserve.

Scientists map rock glaciers on plateau

Read the full article ↗

China Daily

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