The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Default user image.

Jonas Åkerman

Senior lecturer

Default user image.

Permafrost Map for Norway, Sweden and Finland

Author

  • Kjersti Gisnås
  • Bernd Etzelmüller
  • Cristian Lussana
  • Jan Hjort
  • A. Britta K. Sannel
  • Ketil Isaksen
  • Peter Kuhry
  • Hanne Christiansen
  • Andrew Frampton
  • Jonas Åkerman

Summary, in English

A research-based understanding of permafrost distribution at a sufficient spatial resolution is important to meet the demands of science, education and society. We present a new permafrost map for Norway, Sweden and Finland that provides a more detailed and updated description of permafrost distribution in this area than previously available. We implemented the CryoGRID1 model at 1km2 resolution, forced by a new operationally gridded data-set of daily air temperature and snow cover for Finland, Norway and Sweden. Hundred model realisations were run for each grid cell, based on statistical snow distributions, allowing for the representation of sub-grid variability of ground temperature. The new map indicates a total permafrost area (excluding palsas) of 23 400km2 in equilibrium with the average 1981-2010 climate, corresponding to 2.2 per cent of the total land area. About 56 per cent of the area is in Norway, 35 per cent in Sweden and 9 per cent in Finland. The model results are thoroughly evaluated, both quantitatively and qualitatively, as a collaboration project including permafrost experts in the three countries. Observed ground temperatures from 25 boreholes are within±2°C of the average modelled grid cell ground temperature, and all are within the range of the modelled ground temperature for the corresponding grid cell. Qualitative model evaluation by field investigators within the three countries shows that the map reproduces the observed lower altitudinal limits of mountain permafrost and the distribution of lowland permafrost.

Department/s

  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science

Publishing year

2017-04

Language

English

Pages

359-378

Publication/Series

Permafrost and Periglacial Processes

Volume

28

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Topic

  • Physical Geography

Keywords

  • CryoGRID1
  • Permafrost map
  • Permafrost modelling
  • Scandinavia

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1045-6740