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Definition:
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A naturally or artificially caused decrease in the thickness and/or areal extent of Permafrost. Permafrost Degradation may be caused by climatic warming or by changes in terrain conditions, such as disturbance or removal of an insulating vegetation layer by fire, or by flooding, or by human activity. It may be expressed as a thickening of the Active Layer, a lowering of the Permafrost Table, a rising of the Permafrost Base, or a reduction in the areal extent or the complete disappearance of Permafrost.
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