A new paper (Yunjian et al. 2026) in the journal Landslides discusses a 2 million cubic metre landslide that was triggered by freeze-thaw processes. On 1 June 2025, the Dingqing landslide occurred on the Tibetan Plateau. The landslide struck a temporary encampment being used by collectors of medicinal fungus, killing ten people. This landslide has […]
permafrost
Posted inEditors' Vox
How Frozen Ground Controls Water in a Warming World
Frozen ground acts like a hidden underground dam. As it thaws, water pathways shift, changing rivers, wetlands, ecosystems, and infrastructure across cold regions.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Lab Setup Mimics Arctic Erosion
The new methodology gave researchers valuable insights into why Arctic shorelines are crumbling.
Posted inNews
In Arctic Soils, Methane-Eating Microbes Just Might Win Out over Methane Makers
Methanotrophs, including those that capture methane from the air, seem to outcompete methanogens in dry environments, a new study shows.
Posted inThe Landslide Blog
The 17 December 2024 Takhini River landslide and river-ice tsunami, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada
A major slope collapse in frozen sediments in Canada highlights the role of progressive failure. Back in January of this year, I posted fascinating a piece by Derek Cronmiller of the Yukon Geological Survey about the 17 December 2024 Takhini River landslide and river-ice tsunami, which occurred in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. The location of this […]
Posted inEditors' Highlights
Radar Surveys Reveal Permafrost Recovery After Wildfires
Boreal-permafrost systems are still resilient against wildfires, but continuous and long-term monitoring is needed to control the impact of climate change.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Arctic Rivers Trade Inorganic Nitrogen for Organic
Climate change is shifting the makeup of a key nutrient in rivers across Russia, Alaska, and Canada, with the potential for ecosystem-wide impacts.
Posted inNews
Cave Deposits Reveal a Permafrost-Free Arctic
Mineral cave deposits from northern Siberia show that the region was permafrost free during the late Miocene period, when Earth was warmer than today.
Posted inEditors' Vox
Water Tracks: The Veins of Thawing Landscapes
Tracing and tracking change in permafrost flowpaths could reveal the dynamics of warming poles.
Posted inEditors' Vox
Rock Glacier Velocity: Monitoring Permafrost Amid Climate Change
The movement of unique landforms called “rock glaciers” give insight into how climate change is impacting permafrost in mountainous regions.