Arctic Permafrost

Arctic permafrost, the permanently frozen ground of high-latitude regions, is undergoing rapid thaw due to climate change, significantly impacting global carbon cycles and landscapes. Current research focuses on developing advanced remote sensing techniques, employing deep learning models like autoencoders and semi-supervised segmentation approaches (e.g., PixelDINO), to monitor permafrost thaw and associated disturbances such as retrogressive thaw slumps with improved accuracy and efficiency. These efforts leverage high-resolution imagery and aim to create real-time mapping capabilities for better understanding and prediction of permafrost dynamics, crucial for assessing climate change impacts and informing mitigation strategies.