Scientists Released Lost Lakes Arctic Database
A new mapping tool tracks four million Arctic lakes to monitor permafrost thaw.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Geography
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Researchers have launched the Lost Lakes database to monitor millions of Arctic water bodies. The tool tracks lake disappearance as a key indicator of permafrost degradation.
Why it matters
Lakes are far easier to observe than subsurface permafrost, allowing scientists to track landscape stability. As permafrost thaws, it releases stored carbon that could further accelerate global warming.
The database tracks 4 million Arctic lakes using remote sensing data collected since 2016. It serves as an interactive tool to observe ground stability changes, such as the drainage of 200 lakes seen in northwestern Alaska during the summer of 2018.
The players
Alfred Wegener Institute
This German research organization focuses on polar and marine studies.
The details
The interactive map enables users to compare lake changes over time, as permafrost thawing causes ground to sink or opens channels that drain existing water. Researchers rely on this data because visual lake observation provides a more accessible proxy for tracking subsurface permafrost status than direct soil monitoring.
Timeline
12,000 years ago marked the formation of many Arctic lakes.
Mid-20th century saw the formation of certain ponds in west Alaska.
2016 is the starting year for records in the Lost Lakes database.
Summer 2018 involved the shrinkage of 200 lakes in northwestern Alaska.
The Big Picture
The database release extends the Alfred Wegener Institute's permafrost monitoring program by digitizing widespread Arctic land-cover changes. This shift transitions landscape observation from localized studies to a massive, regional scale that captures shifts across the entire Arctic.
This data provides a critical early warning system for regional landscape shifts that threaten infrastructure in Arctic communities. The open access allows researchers and policy makers to better calculate the risk of carbon release associated with warming soil.
The takeaway
The disappearance of Arctic lakes serves as a visible warning sign for invisible changes occurring deep underground. Monitoring these shifts is essential for understanding the broader environmental consequences of a warming planet.
Further reading
Learn more about the environmental patterns of the north in our Geography section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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