noun · academic

permafrost

UK/ˈpɜːməfrɒst/US/ˈpɜːrməfrɔːst/PER·ma·frost

Band 6-7task2speaking

Ground (soil or rock) that remains frozen for two or more years, typically found in polar regions.

Examples

Thawing permafrost can release large amounts of methane.

Buildings on permafrost may become unstable as the ground thaws.

Scientists are monitoring permafrost to understand climate feedbacks.

Band 8 sentence

As Arctic temperatures rise, the rapid thawing of permafrost could release ancient carbon stores and accelerate global warming.

Collocations

  • thawing permafrost
  • permafrost regions
  • melted permafrost

Word family

permafrost nounpermafrosted adjective

Common mistakes

permafrostespermafrost

permafrostes are melting fastpermafrost is melting fast

Say it for a higher band

5frozen ground6permanent frost7+permafrost

Synonyms

perennial frost

Easily confused

frost

The early frost damaged many of the crops in the valley.

Related words

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In Environment & Climate

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