In our changing climate, robust information on the spatial distribution of permafrost becomes increasingly critical for understanding impacts such as ground instability and carbon release. Our Action Group “PERMA-REQ – Defining requirements for the spatial representation of permafrost” focuses on addressing current gaps in how permafrost extent is defined, represented, and integrated into global observation and modelling frameworks.
Bringing together expertise from in situ monitoring, remote sensing, and modelling communities, the initiative will review and refine existing concepts of gridded permafrost representation. Particular attention will be given to developing clear, scale-independent definitions of permafrost extent and establishing requirements that are compatible with diverse data sources, including satellite observations and Earth system models. In addition, we will work on approaches to better characterize and communicate uncertainties, ensuring that resulting products are both scientifically robust and practically useful for a wide range of applications. With this, PERMA-REQ will contribute to ongoing international efforts to strengthen and expand Permafrost as an Essential Climate Variable. By fostering collaboration and aligning methodological approaches, it will support improved consistency, interoperability, and usability of permafrost data products for research, policy, and decision-making.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Anna Maria Irrgang (Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research) – anna.irrgang@awi.de
Dr. Annett Bartsch (b.geos) – annett.bartsch@bgeos.com
Dr. Sebastian Westermann (University of Oslo) – sebastian.westermann@geo.uio.no