Permafrost is defined as soil or rock with a temperature that remains below 0 °C for two or more consecutive years. The existence of permafrost is related to the climate, as mainly the energy balance at the ground surface drives the ground temperature regime. Globally, permafrost affects approximately 24% of Earth’s land areas.
In Greenland, more than 75% of the ice-free area is affected, and most communities north of Maniitsoq are situated in areas with permafrost. Knowledge about permafrost ice content is essential for evaluation of ground and rock slope stability under the impact of climate warming. Thawing of the permafrost results in melting of ground ice and a risk of differential settlements and slope instability constituting a hazard to the maintenance of existing and construction of new infrastructure.
This site presents the ongoing permafrost research activities at the Department of Civil Engineering and the research center Arctic DTU.