Articles | Volume 18, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1773-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1773-2024
Research article
 | 
17 Apr 2024
Research article |  | 17 Apr 2024

InSAR-measured permafrost degradation of palsa peatlands in northern Sweden

Samuel Valman, Matthias B. Siewert, Doreen Boyd, Martha Ledger, David Gee, Betsabé de la Barreda-Bautista, Andrew Sowter, and Sofie Sjögersten

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Cited articles

Åkerman, H. J. and Johansson, M.: Thawing permafrost and thicker active layers in sub-arctic Sweden, Permafrost Periglac., 19, 279–292, https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.626, 2008. 
Alshammari, L., Large, D. J., Boyd, D. S., Sowter, A., Anderson, R., Andersen, R., and Marsh, S.: Long-Term Peatland Condition Assessment via Surface Motion Monitoring Using the ISBAS DInSAR Technique over the Flow Country, Scotland, Remote Sens., 10, 1103, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10071103, 2018. 
Alshammari, L., Boyd, D. S., Sowter, A., Marshall, C., Andersen, R., Gilbert, P., Marsh, S., and Large, D. J.: Use of Surface Motion Characteristics Determined by InSAR to Assess Peatland Condition, J. Geophys. Res., 125, e2018JG004953, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JG004953, 2020. 
Backe, S.: Kartering av Sveriges palsmyrar, Länsstyrelsen, oai:DiVA.org:naturvardsverket-2318, 2014. 
Ballantyne C. K.: Periglacial geomorphology, John Wiley and Son, ISBN 9781405100069, 2018. 
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Short summary
Climate warming is thawing permafrost that makes up palsa (frost mound) peatlands, risking ecosystem collapse and carbon release as methane. We measure this regional degradation using radar satellite technology to examine ground elevation changes and show how terrain roughness measurements can be used to estimate local permafrost damage. We find that over half of Sweden's largest palsa peatlands are degrading, with the worse impacts to the north linked to increased winter precipitation.