Permafrost degradation confirmed in the Alps

An international study published in Communications Earth & Environment indicates that permafrost is degrading globally, including within the Alps. Based on data from 156 monitoring stations, the research tracks the thickness of the ‘active layer’—the portion of ground that thaws in summer and refreezes in winter.

Observations from 2000 to 2024 show that the active layer has increased in 55% of Arctic stations and 38% of Antarctic stations. In European mountains and high-altitude sites in Asia, the increase affected over 90% of monitored stations. Similar trends were noted in the Andes.

In the Alps, monitoring sites such as Cime Bianche in Valtournenche, managed by Arpa Valle d'Aosta, contribute to this data. The degradation of permafrost increases the risk of landslides, rockfalls, and debris flows, which poses potential threats to mountain infrastructure, facilities, and refuges.