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permafrost Definition

perma·frost (pʉrmə frôst′)

noun

permanently frozen soil, subsoil, etc.

Etymology: perma(nent) + frost

permafrost Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • thaw: So maybe warming thaws the permafrost, which in turn produces more greenhouse gases, and more warming.
  • melt: Perhaps the most fascinating result of melting permafrost has been the appearance of ancient relics from Arctic peoples.
  • shrink: For example glaciers shrinking, permafrost thawing, earlier flowering of trees.

Adjective modifier

  • Siberian: Global warming and the melting of vast areas of Siberian permafrost has been in the news recently.
  • discontinuous: ASTIS includes all subjects, and covers all of Canada north of the southern limit of discontinuous permafrost as well as adjacent marine areas.
  • deep: Despite changes being wrought by global warming, experts believe the deep permafrost will be reliably cool for at least the next 100 years.
  • Canadian: Specific investigations of Scandinavian ice masses and Canadian permafrost and periglacial processes will be undertaken.
  • continuous: This has enormous implications for the infrastructure in this area of continuous permafrost.

Modifies a noun

  • region: Oil pipelines in permafrost regions are very susceptible to damage from mechanical stresses, and large spills are not uncommon in the Russian north.
  • area: GLOBAL WARMING Issues include the melting of permafrost areas which affects structures built into the ground such as ski lifts.
  • condition: Sussex was never actually glaciated at any time but tundra and permafrost conditions prevailed during glacial periods.
  • thaw: If this widespread permafrost thaw comes about, " It will change the face of southern Alaska, " says Tom Osterkamp.
  • layer: Massive and deep reaching permafrost layers cover large areas of the Arctic coasts.
  • environment: Such ice developed most probably within a peat deposit in a permafrost environment.

Noun used with modifier

mountain: The combination of ground temperatures only slightly below zero, high ice contents and steep slopes, makes mountain permafrost particularly vulnerable to changes.