Climate change: Arctic permafrost now melting at levels not expected until 2090

Permafrost hs begun thawing in the Canadian Arctic more than 70 years early because of climate change, according to new research.

A "series of anomalously warm summers” has dramatically accelerated melting rates at three sites despite average annual ground temperatures remaining low. Ponds and hillocks have formed as a result.

It had been thought that the permafrost - ground that remains frozen for at least two years - would remain until at least 2090.

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But the study found thawing levels were above 150 to 240 per cent above historic levels.

Researchers called this a “truly remarkable amount".

Shape Created with Sketch. Antarctic Explorers: the new age of exploration in pictures Show all 20 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Antarctic Explorers: the new age of exploration in pictures 1/20 A Twin Otter airplane during a reconnaissance flight over the Antarctic Plateau and the Edson Glacier in the Ellsworth Mountains. This utility airplane, equipped with wheels or skis, adapts perfectly to the Antarctic environment with its rugged construction and short take off and landing performance EPA 2/20 Military personnel move drums with kerosene for the airplanes during their daily maintenance activities EPA 3/20 An explorer points the way to follow during a reconnaissance trip on the Edson Glacier, in the Ellsworth Mountains. The group moves in a straight line to minimize the risk of falling into hidden crevasse EPA 4/20 A member of INACH, Pablo Espinoza, lays in his sleeping bag in the Glaciar Union camp. The temperature inside the living tents averages minus five degrees Celsius EPA 5/20 An aerial view of the Glaciar Union camp in the Ellsworth Mountains. The Glaciar Union camp is a Chilean polar station operated by Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the three groups of the Armed Forces of Chile marking the beginning of all scientific activities planned in Antarctica for the summer season EPA 6/20 Two medics treat an injured soldier in the small station hospital in Glaciar Union camp. The most common cases are minor work injuries, frostbite and hypothermia EPA 7/20 A man walks through the Glaciar Union camp during a windstorm. Catabatic winds can reach up to 300 km/h and drop the thermal sensation to dangerous levels EPA 8/20 Members of the expedition who hadn't crossed the Antarctic Circle (a parallel 66.5 degrees south of the equator) enjoy a 'snow baptism' by other veterans EPA 9/20 A pilot of the Chilean Air Force tries to get signal on his satellite phone after landing on the Antarctic Plateau. Satellite communications is the only mean to keep in touch with the main operational base situated in Punta Arenas EPA 10/20 Scientist Ricardo Jana leaves a mobile station for a GPS tracking field trip in the Glaciar Union camp. Location tracking tools like the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) help to improve the safety on field trips by locating hidden crevasses in exact way EPA 11/20 A group of explorers extract blue ice blocks near the Glaciar Union camp. The ice will be used by scientists to keep their samples refrigerated EPA 12/20 An explorer helps himself to a dessert of fruit and yoghurt during lunch time in a communal area that also works as the kitchen, in the camp EPA 13/20 A group of scientists and explorers move on ski randonee to a sample spot on the Higgins Nunatak, in the Ellsworth Mountains. Snowmobiles, ski randonnee and short flights in Twin Otter airplanes are the most used travel options in field trips with scientists EPA 14/20 A man walks out of buried living unit in the Glaciar Union camp. Snow accumulation occurs mostly by wind displacement rather than snowfall EPA 15/20 Pablo Espinoza, gets ready for a field trip in his tent EPA 16/20 Scientists and military personnel play football in Glaciar Union camp EPA 17/20 Military personnel shovel dirty snow into an empty drum during a cleaning activity around the camp. Known as the 'chicken walk' the military personnel collect with shovels or by hand small debris or small patches of contaminated snow that can be found in the camp area. The expeditioners aim for a zero impact stay in this region EPA 18/20 A group of explorers transport scientists and material on snowmobiles during a field trip near Rossman Cove EPA 19/20 A member of INACH, Rene Quinan, in his tent. Up to three people can sleep in these clam tents designed for extreme weather conditions EPA 20/20 A group of explorers during a reconnaissance trip on ski randonee on the Edson Glacier EPA 1/20 A Twin Otter airplane during a reconnaissance flight over the Antarctic Plateau and the Edson Glacier in the Ellsworth Mountains. This utility airplane, equipped with wheels or skis, adapts perfectly to the Antarctic environment with its rugged construction and short take off and landing performance EPA 2/20 Military personnel move drums with kerosene for the airplanes during their daily maintenance activities EPA 3/20 An explorer points the way to follow during a reconnaissance trip on the Edson Glacier, in the Ellsworth Mountains. The group moves in a straight line to minimize the risk of falling into hidden crevasse EPA 4/20 A member of INACH, Pablo Espinoza, lays in his sleeping bag in the Glaciar Union camp. The temperature inside the living tents averages minus five degrees Celsius EPA 5/20 An aerial view of the Glaciar Union camp in the Ellsworth Mountains. The Glaciar Union camp is a Chilean polar station operated by Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the three groups of the Armed Forces of Chile marking the beginning of all scientific activities planned in Antarctica for the summer season EPA 6/20 Two medics treat an injured soldier in the small station hospital in Glaciar Union camp. The most common cases are minor work injuries, frostbite and hypothermia EPA 7/20 A man walks through the Glaciar Union camp during a windstorm. Catabatic winds can reach up to 300 km/h and drop the thermal sensation to dangerous levels EPA 8/20 Members of the expedition who hadn't crossed the Antarctic Circle (a parallel 66.5 degrees south of the equator) enjoy a 'snow baptism' by other veterans EPA 9/20 A pilot of the Chilean Air Force tries to get signal on his satellite phone after landing on the Antarctic Plateau. Satellite communications is the only mean to keep in touch with the main operational base situated in Punta Arenas EPA 10/20 Scientist Ricardo Jana leaves a mobile station for a GPS tracking field trip in the Glaciar Union camp. Location tracking tools like the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) help to improve the safety on field trips by locating hidden crevasses in exact way EPA 11/20 A group of explorers extract blue ice blocks near the Glaciar Union camp. The ice will be used by scientists to keep their samples refrigerated EPA 12/20 An explorer helps himself to a dessert of fruit and yoghurt during lunch time in a communal area that also works as the kitchen, in the camp EPA 13/20 A group of scientists and explorers move on ski randonee to a sample spot on the Higgins Nunatak, in the Ellsworth Mountains. Snowmobiles, ski randonnee and short flights in Twin Otter airplanes are the most used travel options in field trips with scientists EPA 14/20 A man walks out of buried living unit in the Glaciar Union camp. Snow accumulation occurs mostly by wind displacement rather than snowfall EPA 15/20 Pablo Espinoza, gets ready for a field trip in his tent EPA 16/20 Scientists and military personnel play football in Glaciar Union camp EPA 17/20 Military personnel shovel dirty snow into an empty drum during a cleaning activity around the camp. Known as the 'chicken walk' the military personnel collect with shovels or by hand small debris or small patches of contaminated snow that can be found in the camp area. The expeditioners aim for a zero impact stay in this region EPA 18/20 A group of explorers transport scientists and material on snowmobiles during a field trip near Rossman Cove EPA 19/20 A member of INACH, Rene Quinan, in his tent. Up to three people can sleep in these clam tents designed for extreme weather conditions EPA 20/20 A group of explorers during a reconnaissance trip on ski randonee on the Edson Glacier EPA

Mould Bay on Prince Patrick Island was the worst-affected site, according to the study, published on the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

There, permafrost thawing levels were 240 per cent higher than historic levels and the ground sank 90cm over the course of the study which ran for over 12 years, between 2003 and 2016.

Researchers also recorded thawing at depths not expected until air temperatures rose to levels that the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted it would reach in 2090.

Along with Mould Bay, researchers observed thermokarsts - a type of land surface that occurs when the ice melts in permafrost, characterised by uneven ground with low rounded hills and small ponds - at three siites along the 430 mile section of the high Arctic in Canada they were monitoring.

When permafrost thaws, it releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases stored in or beneath it into the atmosphere.

There in turn, cause temperatures to rise and create a perpetual cycle where more permafrost melts.