Shrinking Mauna Kea permafrost?

[TomK]

A couple of interesting articles found their way to my inbox this evening, both about the indications that the permafrost on Mauna Kea's summit area might be shrinking.

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2019/02/26/...ch-longer/

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2019/02/25/m...shrinking/

From the latter:

"Researchers found that there is less permafrost now then when it was first discovered 50 years ago. Back in 1969, the ice at Pu'uwekiu was 11 yards thick and 27 yards long, buried beneath one foot of boulders. Since then, Pu'uwekiu has shrunk significantly and the remaining ice body is expected to disappear soon.

The other permafrost location in Pu'uhaukea is still at least 55 yards wide and about 11 yards thick.

“This is the last permafrost in Hawai'i,” said Schörghofer. “It should be studied before it disappears.”"

Edited to remove control characters.

[1voyager1]

I am surprised that there is permafrost on either of our mountains here.
That it is shrinking and likely to disappear soon is not surprising.

Permafrost is taking a beating in arctic and sub-arctic areas.
The results are likely to increase the effects of climate change/global warming [take your choice] everywhere.