Products & Data access

The datasets can be explored via the

PerSys Catalogue (Permafrost information System)

AWI Map Portal (WebGIS)

PANGAEA (data download, including citations with DOI)

Datasets are grouped by theme:

Product	Description	Data
Circumpolar permafrost extent	Permafrost is defined through the thermal state of the ground, which makes remote detection a difficult task. In order to map circumpolar permafrost extent, we employed a numerical permafrost models to exploit the information content of different remote sensing products to estimate the ground thermal state. Northern Hemishpere as well as Southern Hemisphere are covered (download as KMZ: zones for NH, MAGT classes for SH). Future updates will be available through ESA CCI+ Permafrost.	WebGIS view - Arctic and Antarctic Catalogue PANGAEA download
Permafrost dedicated land cover class prototypes	Land cover serves as information on upscaling of inherent ecosystem characteristics in permafrost regions. With respect to user requirements (including permafrost modelling, flux and soil carbon upscaling), we onsidered approaches for characterization of land cover using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) as well as optical instruments, specifically Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2. Products include vegetation height and landcover for Western Siberia.	Extent: kml file WebGIS view Catalogue PANGAEA download
Local services	Through a multi-sensor approach we have investigated the following applications for selected areas: terrain change by InSAR, change in fraction of bottom fast lake ice high resolution landcover for detection of features related to mass movements (bare surfaces).	Extent: kmz file WebGIS view Catalogue
Transects for identification of hotspot regions of permafrost change (HRPC)	Observations made at high spatial and temporal resolution are essential in order to track HRPC. The two main goals are: to detect, map, and classify press (gradual) and pulse (rapid) disturbances of land surface properties associated with permafrost changes to identify HRPC at high spatial resolution (30 m) using the full Landsat record spanning the panarctic permafrost domain, and use auxiliary data from other remote sensing platforms and products to analyse the identified disturbances, trends, and HRPC with additional information layers. Four continuous transects that represent all major permafrost types have been targeted.	Analyses Extent: kmz file WebGIS view Catalogue PANGAEA download
Mountain permafrost areas	The best visual expression of mountain permafrost is represented by rockglaciers, which, in contrast to the permafrost itself, can be mapped and monitored directly using remotely sensed data. Rockglaciers are lavastream-like mixtures of permanently frozen debris that creep downslope under gravity. To date, the movement of rockglaciers is not monitored in a systematic way worldwide. Covered areas include sites in the Andean mountains, Alps, Tien Shan and Brooks Range, Alaska.	Selected sites: kmz file Catalogue

Product

Description

Data

Circumpolar permafrost extent

Permafrost is defined through the thermal state of the ground, which makes remote detection a difficult task. In order to map circumpolar permafrost extent, we employed a numerical permafrost models to exploit the information content of different remote sensing products to estimate the ground thermal state.

Northern Hemishpere as well as Southern Hemisphere are covered (download as KMZ: zones for NH, MAGT classes for SH).

Future updates will be available through ESA CCI+ Permafrost.

WebGIS view - Arctic and Antarctic

Catalogue

PANGAEA download

Permafrost dedicated land cover class prototypes

Land cover serves as information on upscaling of inherent ecosystem characteristics in permafrost regions. With respect to user requirements (including permafrost modelling, flux and soil carbon upscaling), we onsidered approaches for characterization of land cover using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) as well as optical instruments, specifically Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2. Products include vegetation height and landcover for Western Siberia.

Local services

Displacement rates from Sentinel-1 at Teshekpuk Lake, Alaska, (c) Gamma RS

Through a multi-sensor approach we have investigated the following applications for selected areas:

terrain change by InSAR,
change in fraction of bottom fast lake ice
high resolution landcover for detection of features related to mass movements (bare surfaces).

Extent: kmz file

WebGIS view

Catalogue

Transects for identification of hotspot regions of permafrost change (HRPC)

Observations made at high spatial and temporal resolution are essential in order to track HRPC. The two main goals are:

to detect, map, and classify press (gradual) and pulse (rapid) disturbances of land surface properties associated with permafrost changes to identify HRPC at high spatial resolution (30 m) using the full Landsat record spanning the panarctic permafrost domain, and
use auxiliary data from other remote sensing platforms and products to analyse the identified disturbances, trends, and HRPC with additional information layers.

Four continuous transects that represent all major permafrost types have been targeted.

Analyses Extent: kmz file

WebGIS view

Catalogue

PANGAEA download

Mountain permafrost areas

The best visual expression of mountain permafrost is represented by rockglaciers, which, in contrast to the permafrost itself, can be mapped and monitored directly using remotely sensed data. Rockglaciers are lavastream-like mixtures of permanently frozen debris that creep downslope under gravity. To date, the movement of rockglaciers is not monitored in a systematic way worldwide. Covered areas include sites in the Andean mountains, Alps, Tien Shan and Brooks Range, Alaska.

Selected sites: kmz file

Catalogue