Recent contributions to the study of past permafrost

This paper reviews recent literature, published between 2002 and 2007, concerning the previous existence of permafrost (past permafrost) that formed during the cold periods of the Pleistocene in the northern mid-latitudes. Some past permafrost continues to be preserved today as relict permafrost in the higher northern latitudes. Given that global climate warming models predict widespread thaw of permafrost in the coming century, it is surprising that little attention has been given to the insights that past and relict permafrost offer as to the nature and duration of permafrost thaw. Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.