The Permafrost Tunnel

Betsy's husband, Matthew, is a glaciologist who studies ancient snow. He is world-renowned in that area and has written a very interesting children's book about snow and its many different forms. Did you know there are different kinds of snow? I didn't . . . until Matthew taught me.

Part of Matthew's interest is with the permafrost tunnel outside Fairbanks. It is a shaft drilled into a hillside that gets into and under the permafrost layer. Walking through it, it is easy to see how permafrost is created and why it is so important. We even walked under a frozen lake from about 15,000 years ago. Plants can be pulled from the lake that are still green - 15,000 years later.

Matthew explained the whole process of permafrost and the purpose of the tunnel.

Much research has been conducted there, and numerous fossils have been found in the area. (Matthew's and Betsy's son even found a mammoth bone nearby.) It is a fascinating look at the ice age and the impact that global warming will have on our environment. Thank you, Matthew, for taking us into the permafrost tunnel.