ENVIRONMENT Arctic Permafrost Thaw Accelerating Carbon Release Cycle Arctic permafrost contains approximately 1,700 gigatons of carbon—roughly twice the amount currently in the atmosphere—locked beneath frozen soil for millennia. Since 1980, permafrost temperatures have risen at double the global average rate, with recent studies showing active-layer thaw depths increasing 30% faster than predicted by climate models. This creates a feedback loop: as permafrost thaws, decomposing organic matter releases methane and CO2, which trap more heat and accelerates further thaw. The broader significance lies in this tipping-point risk—permafrost carbon release operates independently of human emissions once triggered, potentially adding 0.13°C of warming by 2100 even if we achieve net-zero emissions, fundamentally limiting our ability to control climate outcomes.