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Thawing LYR

The permafrost in Longyearbyen is thawing. What does this mean for cultural heritage, infrastructure, and mountain slopes — and how can we prepare?

The event has taken place

The permafrost in Longyearbyen is thawing. What does this mean for cultural heritage, infrastructure, and mountain slopes?
The event will be hosted in English.

Svalbard Museum
24. Sep 2025
18.00 – 19.30

This meeting is hosted by the UNIS-led ThawingLYR project team, who will present four short talks on the following topics:

  • Climate Change and Permafrost: Challenges for Longyearbyen
    Hanne Christiansen and Marius Jonassen, UNIS

  • Climate Change and Cultural Heritage: Status and Challenges for Longyearbyen
    Eystein Markusson, Svalbard museum

  • Adapting to Thawing Permafrost in Longyearbyen: Societal Challenges and Local Involvement
    Grete Hovelsrud, Nordland Research Institute/ Nordlandsforskning

  • Developing a Permafrost–Climate Response System for Longyearbyen: Local Needs and Involvement
    Maaike Weerdesteijn, UNIS

Following the presentations, there will be an open discussion about the need for knowledge, action, adaptation, response systems, and local engagement.
Chair: Grete Hovelsrud