Permafrost
What Permafrost means in Geography GCSE, as defined for AQA, Pearson Edexcel.
Definitions of Permafrost
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Reference: AQA
A layer of permanently frozen ground, whose active surface layer thaws in summer, creating waterlogged conditions because it prevents drainage.
Frozen ground that becomes unstable if buildings or heated pipes melt it, causing structures to collapse.
A thick subsurface layer of soil that remains below freezing point throughout the year, occurring chiefly in polar regions.
Topics that use Permafrost
- Cold environments (AQA GCSE)
- Large-scale ecosystems are found in different parts of the world and are important (Pearson Edexcel GCSE)
Related terms
- Active layer
- Biodiversity loss
- Biosphere
- Conservation groups
- Ecosystem fragility
- Energy development
- Extreme temperatures
- Human-environment conflict
Using Permafrost in the exam
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