Permafrost
Permafrost is the term used to describe permanently frozen ground. It is said to underlie from one fifth to one quarter of the world's land. As the melting caused by a warmer climate could release some of the large amounts of methane now locked into the frozen soil, this might add substantially to the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The surface layer above the permanently frozen ground can become very mobile during the melt season, making an unstable base for construction. This layer is also vulnerable to melting when built on, driven over, or even walked on. Such traces of human activity remain visible for many years in this delicate environment. A warmer climate might increase the depth of the surface layer.
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