Regional permafrost monitoring system in natural test sites

Temperatures in the Arctic has risen to two or three times faster than the rest of the plane in the last 50 year to two to three degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. As permafrost (permafrost is a permanently frozen land ) thaws away due to the warming climate, it poses threats to the environment, infrastructure, and human lives. Covering a quarter of the northern hemisphere landmass, mainly above the Arctic Circle, permafrost is believed to contain around 1.7 trillion tonnes of carbon in a state of organic matter. It accounts for twice the amount of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere. Permafrost thaw could send these vast amounts of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing further warming and creating a feedback loop of melting and more gas emissions. In Norilsk agglomeration infrastructure, buildings and transportation networks are constructed over a permafrost base, which is vulnerable to changes to climate and rapidly warming Arctic temperatures. This can spell disaster for the structures above, damaging buildings and roads as the permafrost degrades beneath. Permafrost thaw also releases damaging contaminants into the ecosystem, impacting food chains and community health. Climate change-related increases in costs (economic losses or damage) are estimated for several climate futures by 2050 separately for 39 municipalities located in the Russian Arctic permafrost domain. The economic losses (according calculation of scientists) were evaluated as maximum and minimum values at extreme values of permafrost parameters, separately for each case. The greatest damage is expected to housing stock and buildings and structures of main economic sectors. The potential damage for Russian Arctic may reach up to US$ 132 billion (total) and ~ US$ 15 billion for residential infrastructure alone. The UN has set one of the main goals for sustainable development in the world until 2030 to take urgent measures to combat climate change and its consequences. Permafrost monitoring system in natural test sites is necessary to assess the current state of permafrost and develop scientifically based forecast models and measures to adapt to climate change in the region.