What happens when the permafrost thaws? | BBC Ideas?

Permafrost is like a giant freezer that has been keeping things cold for thousands of years, and when it thaws, it's like opening the door to a fridge full of surprises.

Permafrost is ground that stays frozen all year long. It’s mostly found in places like Siberia or Alaska, where it’s super chilly. Inside this frozen ground are frozen soil, rocks, and even old plants and animals that have been sleeping for a very long time.

When the permafrost starts to thaw, which means it gets warm enough to melt, things begin to shift. The ground can feel wobbly, like when you take a popsicle out of the freezer and it starts to drip. This shaking can cause trees to fall over or make roads crack.

Also, all those old plants and animals that were frozen for ages start to come back to life, kind of like waking up from a really long nap. They release gases into the air, which makes the Earth even warmer. It's like starting a fire in your freezer, it gets pretty hot!