FROZEN GROUND

Permafrost Research

This is one of ten sites in the Dawson area where climate change effects on permafrost (perennially frozen round) have been examined since 2007. This region experiences among the greatest range of temperatures in Canada because the nearest ocean that can moderate the climate is 500 km away.

Dawson City is in the extensive discontinuous permafrost zone and more than half of the townsite is underlain by permafrost. However, there is no permafrost at this site. The site is warmer than the valley floor where cold, dense air often pools in winter. Also, the snowpack forms a seasonal insulating blanket, resulting in the ground being warmer than the air.

Permafrost Monitoring Station

Please do not disturb the instruments. Monitoring is continuing to examine the response of this non-permafrost site to annual variations and long-term changes in air temperature and snow depths.