(Image: Pixabay CC0)
(Image: Pixabay CC0) Nearly a quarter of the Earth's land surface is permanently frozen. These areas, known as permafrost, are found in northern polar regions and at high altitudes. But the permafrost is now starting to thaw - with potentially disastrous consequences for the climate. Here, we look at what scientists currently know about this potential threat. Permafrost is a layer of soil, rock or sediment that remains at a temperature of 0°C or below all year round. While it gets little public attention, permafrost nevertheless covers 22% of the Earth's land surface. It's mostly found at northern latitudes - in Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Russia - and at altitudes above the tree line.
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