[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Not to support the chicken-little aspects of this; but, melting permafrost can be a major pain in the far north.

Houses, in permafrost areas, have to be thermally isolated from the permafrost -- lest it thaws and refreezes. When it melts, the ground becomes gumbo. When it refreezes, huge frost heaves result. Most northern housing is built on crib-work, or jacks -- to keep it above the ground, and so that it can be re-leveled every spring.

Some newer housing is built on space frames, or as a torsion box (rigid plywood covered unit). The entire house shifts with the frost heaves; but it doesn't twist apart like ordinary wood-frame houses do. Each year, the foundation jacks are readjusted -- sometimes by a few feet.

[ExSES]

Not to support the chicken-little aspects of this; but, melting permafrost can be a major pain in the far north. Houses, in permafrost areas, have to be thermally isolated from the permafrost -- lest it thaws and refreezes. When it melts, the ground becomes gumbo. When it refreezes, huge frost heaves result. Most northern housing is built on crib-work, or jacks -- to keep it above the ground, and so that it can be re-leveled every spring.

True, for the inhabited areas this will be a challenge for some time to come. I remember such problems from my days in Alaska...

It is a fact of life that the Earth's climate has cycled through temperature shifts throughout it's existence and (though disrupted) life adjusts and carries on...

[Eska]

I live within 50 miles of arctic circle. The permafrost is discontinuous until you get a few hundred yards behind our house. We have a cement foundation and sure is nice downstairs when its in 90's in summer. I think much of the fear for permafrost is exaggerated. Its been melting for a long time and I don't see much change where we live.

We usually see 5-6 weeks of minus 50 F starting nx month. The change and extremes in temps is hard on everything.

[Clara Lou]

I was wondering about the effect that thawing of permafrost would have on buildings, etc. I would think that this could be serious in places like Anchorage [not sure how deep the permafrost is there] or Fairbanks. This would affect not only foundations but sewer systems, water mains and other underground utilities, oil pipelines, etc.