So in line with your results it may be reasonable that the high temperatures in August have been accompanied with enhanced drainage, thermal erosion and further subsidence, that intensified this rapid thaw and the collapse of the ice wedges

Many thanks for sharing, Frans-Jan! The results are very interesting. The previous winter brought more than normal of snow to the actual area, and even in August, there were still some snow patches, which resulted in a wetter tundra than normal.

Yes! It's remarkable to see these significant changes

Warming and thawing permafrost is confirmed by data from nearby monitoring stations. 2025 will be another bad year for the permafrost in Svalbard. Still some weeks left of the thawing season..

Thawing has intensified over the last few summers in Svalbard.

Thank you, Mika! The research was established through a exciting collaboration between the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Norwegian Mapping Authority, and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute @uio.no @npiglaciology.bsky.social @met.no