Figure 2: Mean annual ground temperature (MAGT, n = 797, black symbols) and ALT observation sites (active layer thickness, n = 303, white symbols) in the Northern Hemisphere north of 30°N.
From: Circumpolar permafrost maps and geohazard indices for near-future infrastructure risk assessments
Modelled extent of near-surface permafrost occurrence, (predicted MAGT ≤ 0 °C), undifferentiated by continuity zone is shown for the present (2000–2014) and future (2041–2060 and 2061–2080) periods under a moderate climate-forcing scenario RCP4.5 (representative concentration pathways). In certain areas, especially in northwestern Russia, thaw of near-surface permafrost is projected to progress rapidly between the two future periods (dark blue zone), whereas in many other locations the change is minimal owing to, for example, the altitudinal cooling effect of a topographical barrier. World Borders dataset is distributed under CC BY-SA 3.0 license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) on http://thematicmapping.org/downloads/world_borders.php.
