8:19PM - Permafrost not so permanent with global warming
NEW - Surface permafrost may vanish in Alaska
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska permafrost researcher says the state probably will see most of its surface permafrost vanish by the end of the century.
But University of Alaska Fairbanks Professor Vladimir Romanovsky says vast areas of frozen soil likely will remain deeper underground even as air temperatures increase.
Alaska's permafrost is being watched closely.
Unstable, thawing permafrost can cause damage to buildings and other infrastructure.
There are also climate implications. Thawing permafrost can release locked up greenhouse gases that may contribute to global warming.
Romanovsky says dozens of bore holes are being monitored to see how permafrost reacts to changing temperatures.
(Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)