Permafrost Thaw Estimate Calculator
Estimate potential carbon release from permafrost thaw based on area, depth, carbon density, and release fraction.
Total Carbon in Thaw Zone
75.0 Gt C
Total Carbon in Thaw Zone vs Permafrost Area Thawing
Permafrost Carbon and Climate Feedback
Permafrost soils contain vast stores of organic carbon frozen for thousands of years. As temperatures rise, thawing releases this carbon as CO2 and methane.
Formula
Total Carbon (Gt) = Area (km²) x 10^6 x Depth (m) x Carbon Density (kg/m³) / 10^12
Released Carbon = Total Carbon x Release Fraction
CO2 Released = Released Carbon x 3.67 (molecular weight ratio of CO2 to C)
Arctic permafrost holds an estimated 1,500 Gt of carbon, roughly twice the amount currently in the atmosphere.
Example Calculation
One million km² of permafrost thaws to 3 m depth with 25 kg C/m³ density and 10% release.
- 01Total carbon = 1,000,000 x 1,000,000 x 3 x 25 / 10^12 = 75 Gt C
- 02Released = 75 x 10% = 7.5 Gt C
- 03As CO2 = 7.5 x 3.67 = 27.5 Gt CO2