Climate change is causing widespread thawing and degradation of permafrost, which has associated impacts on infrastructure, ecosystems, and the global carbon cycle. Data are needed to observe and monitor permafrost and for input into models that project permafrost change. This site presents insights from Opportunities to Use Remote Sensing in Understanding Permafrost and Related Ecological Characteristics (2014), a workshop report from the National Research Council's Polar Research Board. The interactive table below presents permafrost and related ecological variables that emerged from committee and workshop discussions as having the most impact in advancing the current state of knowledge of permafrost landscapes. The table presents current and future remote sensing techniques and the available and desirable spatial and temporal resolution of the relevant remote sensing products.

Remote Sensing Variables for Improving Understanding of Permafrost: Interactive Table About the Variables