Mountain permafrost: development and challenges of a young research field.

The article provides an overview on the development in the study of permafrost in cold mountain regions, including the state of knowledge and future challenges. A brief history is given which cites the Proceedings of the International Permafrost Conferences in the late 1970s to have started the papers about permafrost in mid-latitude/high-altitude mountain regions. Its occurrence and distribution patterns are discussed with emphasis on the effects of various factors like complex topography, surface energy fluxes, and microclimatic conditions.