Understanding Permafrost and Its Impact

What percentage of the Earth's land mass is covered by permafrost?

• 30%

• 20%

• 11%

• 5%

What is the active layer in permafrost regions?

• A layer of soil that thaws and freezes annually

• A layer of ice above the permafrost

• A permanent frozen layer

• A layer of rock beneath the permafrost

How much has the active layer been deepening per year on average due to climate change?

• 4 cm

• 2 cm

• 6 cm

• 8 cm

What is a major concern for scientists regarding thawing permafrost?

• Decrease in global temperatures

• Release of ancient viruses

• Increased snowfall

• Formation of new glaciers

How does permafrost act as a storage for carbon?

• By absorbing carbon from the atmosphere

• By trapping carbon in dead vegetation

• By releasing carbon into the soil

• By converting carbon into oxygen

What is a visible effect of permafrost thawing on the landscape?

• Formation of new mountains

• Increase in forest density

• Creation of thermokarst mega slumps

• Expansion of deserts

What is the 'Doorway to the Underworld'?

• A new glacier in Greenland

• A volcanic vent in Iceland

• A mythical cave in Antarctica

• A large crater in Arctic Russia

What is a potential benefit of thawing permafrost?

• Increased snowfall

• New mining opportunities

• Formation of new glaciers

• Decrease in global temperatures

What is a suggested solution to mitigate the impact of permafrost thawing?

• Ignoring climate change

• Creating resilient communities

• Increasing fossil fuel usage

• Building more roads

What is the main message for people living in permafrost regions?

• To adapt and build resilient communities

• To ignore the changes

• To increase industrial activities

• To relocate immediately