Permafrost Pathways

Scientists can see Earth’s permafrost thawing from space New ways to measure thawing permafrost could help us understand its potential impacts on infrastructure, military outposts, and communities.

🛰️ Hear from Dr. Sue Natali about the new ways researchers are tracking permafrost thaw and how Alaska Native communities and Permafrost Pathways are using this information to inform climate adaptation planning.

Day 1️⃣ of Climate Week

Stay tuned for updates from our panel discussions and partner collaborations.

Map by @gfiske.bsky.social
@permafrostpathways.bsky.social

YouTube video by IARPC Collaborations Information Session on the National Plan for Arctic Research

Did you miss the Information Session on the National Plan for Arctic Research that we co-hosted with the IARPC Secretariat and ARCUS last week? You can now view the recording on IARPC Collaborations' YouTube channel! youtu.be/WdenRb3xJLk?...

If you're wondering how you can learn more about and engage with the National Arctic Research Plan 2027-2031 development process, check out this list of upcoming engagement opportunities from IARPC Collaborations: www.iarpccollaborations.org/updates/26518

This map from @cmshintani.bsky.social shows the range of the nomadic Dukha reindeer herders on the high taiga of northwest Mongolia.

Woodwell Climate is proud to announce the appointment of three endowed chairs, an exciting milestone in our 40-year history that will sustain groundbreaking climate research for generations to come.

www.woodwellclimate.org/endowed-chai...

Spent a rainy but productive day on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. with our Government Relations and @permafrostpathways.bsky.social teams. The importance of using maps to communicate our science was a key topic of discussion. The map tie also received several compliments :)

Northern communities adapt to a new era of Arctic-boreal wildfire - Woodwell Climate Arctic Indigenous Peoples face health crises, displacement, and cultural disruption due to wildfire. Indigenous expertise offers solutions.

🔥 Arctic Indigenous Peoples face deepening health crises, displacement, and cultural disruption due to wildfire. Indigenous expertise offers solutions.

www.woodwellclimate.org/northern-com...

This study uses data from almost 200 studies going back to the 1970s, with data from almost 2000 unique sites. Knowing what it takes to collect this data and publish these individual studies, it is humbling to be able to use their findings in a joint analysis – standing on the shoulder of giants.

Our modelling of future methane emissions account for both climate warming (through a space-for-time framework) and permafrost thaw (through landscape transitions caused by thaw), and we find that these effects have important interactions – although the direct effect of warming dominates.

An Unusual Sight Over Canada’s Arctic: Wildfire Smoke

“We have no need for air-conditioning, and so we don’t have filtration in the homes for smoke.”
Project Lead Sue Natali and Sr. Arctic Lead Edward Alexander spoke to the New York Times about how the presence of smoke in northern communities is a growing cause for concern. #Canada #Arctic
🎁 link:

This is a great opportunity for US based early career scientists to build international research collaborations. Please spread the word.

As a lead author of Chapter Four, Natali, project lead of @permafrostpathways.bsky.social joins 20 other experts from 16 nations to gather the best available science on land surface processes, interactions between the cryosphere, ocean, and atmosphere, and changes in carbon sinks and sources.

📣 We’re excited to share that Senior Scientist and Arctic ecologist Dr. Sue Natali has been named a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (#IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report!

Experts emphasize need for Interior Alaska wildfire mitigation Gwich’in panelist Edward Alexander explained how cultural burnings every two years can be used as preventative maintenance.

A group panelists — three whom live in Alaska’s Interior — discussed methods to address wildfires in the Arctic, as well as strategies to implement fire mitigation.

A 17km horseback trek brought us to the Dukha reindeer herders' autumn camp in the West Taiga this week. We're here to co-create maps, sharing the story of their nomadic life and how they're navigating climate change and land use changes.
Drone 📸: IG @l.s_ragchaa
@permafrostpathways.bsky.social

Canada wildfire season already second worst on record as experts warn of ‘new reality’ More than 470 Canadian fires classified as ‘out of control’ as scientists say climate change exacerbating the burning

Canada wildfire season already second worst on record as experts warn of ‘new reality’

- More than 470 Canadian fires classified as ‘out of control’ as scientists say climate change exacerbating the burning

#climatecrisis
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

And we’re already hard at work discussing map information.

Starlink

After many days of travel: inc four flights, 8 hours of 4x4 off roading, and a half day (and into the night) on horseback, we’ve reached the Dukha reindeer camp on the east taiga of Mongolia, just 10 miles from the Russian border. And they have starlink! 🙂

Native languages need radio, which is at risk of being lost As public media is threatened after cuts from the Trump administration, Indigenous radio also faces threats to how it preserves and grows language.

#FriendsOfPublicRadio
www.kyuk.org/politics/202...

Native languages need radio, which is at risk of being lost - High Country News As public media is threatened after cuts from Trump administration, Indigenous radio also face threats to how they preserve and grow language.

The growth of Indigenous language through radio is at risk, along with the rest of public media, but cultural reclamation at large will persevere.

💡 The study reveals how federal and state systems often fail to recognize the urgency of gradual, compounding environmental threats, and how this failure leaves Tribal communities to bear the disproportionate impacts from climate change.

Thawing ground, frozen systems: Erosion case study reveals U.S. climate policy gaps in Chevak, Alaska - Permafrost Pathways

📖 In partnership with the Alaska Native Village of Cev’aq (Chevak), Permafrost Pathways at @woodwellclimate.bsky.social has produced a case study that details the climate impacts that the Cev’aq community is living through with limited institutional support.

IPA Logo Design Call: The IPA is excited to announce a call for logo design submissions as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen our visual identity and enhance our presence in the global permafrost research community.

🚨 REMINDER: The abstract submission deadline for #AGU25 has been EXTENDED to TODAY at 5:00PM ET!

Submit your abstract today: buff.ly/BUyEjhU

Q&A: Jackie Qatalina Schaeffer Argues 'Indigenous Infrastructure' Deserves Federal Funding too ANCHORAGE — Federal agencies spend billions on roads and energy systems in Alaska, but nothing on fish camps and traditional trails that Jackie Qatalina Schaeffer calls “Indigenous infrastructure” — t...

“It's our job to learn, then empower and allow [communities] to create things important to them, prioritize projects important to them, and provide tools and resources.”

Great conversation with our collaborator Jackie Qataliña Schaeffer about adaptation planning and Indigenous infrastructure.

Thanks! The data come from these modeled estimates by Gruber, S. (2012) tc.copernicus.org/articles/6/2...

This map from @cmshintani.bsky.social shows the permafrost extant across the boreal forest ecoregion.

Read more about the connection between boreal wildfires and permafrost at www.woodwellclimate.org/connection-b...