Permafrost hydrology

Permafrost hydrology studies how water interacts with permanently frozen ground, called permafrost. In these regions, the ground remains below freezing for at least two consecutive years, affecting water movement and storage. Melted surface ice and snow can percolate into the soil or flow over its surface, but deep water movement is limited by the frozen layers. As climate change causes permafrost to thaw, it releases stored water and gases, altering ecosystems and infrastructure. Understanding these processes helps predict the impacts of thawing permafrost on water availability, landscape stability, and the global climate system.