Ground in Transition: Thawing Permafrost at the Arctic Coast

Deniz Vural

This image captures an actively eroding permafrost cliff on Herschel Island-Qikiqtaruk along the western Canadian Arctic coast. The exposed ground ice and collapsing tundra surface illustrate rapid thaw processes driven by rising temperatures and coastal dynamics. As permafrost degrades, previously stable soils lose cohesion, leading to mass wasting and shoreline retreat. These changes not only reshape Arctic landscapes but also release stored carbon and impact coastal ecosystems and infrastructure. Such sites are critical for understanding the feedbacks between climate warming, permafrost stability, and coastal erosion in polar regions.

Report

Location

North America Northern America Canada Show on map

Reuse

Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)

Download

Credit: Deniz Vural (distributed via imaggeo.egu.eu)

Properties

Type Image Format JPG Size 6.1 MB Aspect 3:2 Width 6000 px Height 4000 px Brand Nikon Model D3400 Exposure 32 mm f/20 1/60 s ISO 200 Software NA Coordinates 69.5762, -138.9362 Tint Very pale blue Submitted 8 April 2026 Taken 3 July 2023