Andorra Researchers Launch Phase 2 of Permapyrenees Permafrost Study in Grau Roig

Researchers from Andorra Recerca + Innovació (AR+I) have begun the second phase of the EU-funded Permapyrenees project with a technical field visit to Clots de la Menera in the Grau Roig area.

The visit marked the start of Permapyrenees-2, under the Poctefa cross-border cooperation programme, which focuses on permafrost—permanently frozen ground—in the Pyrenees. This phase builds on prior work to determine if such conditions still exist in Andorra's high mountain zones.

During the outing, teams from AR+I and project partners carried out four key activities: retrieving data from underground thermometers installed last year, conducting geophysical surveys to assess ground properties, performing drone photogrammetry, and collecting water samples for laboratory analysis.

For Andorra, this stage holds special importance as it will build data series to clarify subsurface thermal behaviour at the site. Long-term observations are essential to distinguish seasonal effects from true permafrost conditions, a question that remains open for the country.

The research addresses a lesser-known aspect of the Pyrenean cryosphere. While glacier loss and snow reduction have received much attention, permafrost's distribution, evolution, and persistence—particularly in southern sectors—still pose many uncertainties.

Beyond science, the study informs climate change impacts in high mountains, where permafrost helps stabilise slopes. Its thaw could trigger landslides, ground movement, and risks to hiking areas and mountain infrastructure.

Clots de la Menera has emerged as a key testing ground. Phase one geophysical studies, remote sensing, and initial drilling revealed evidence of buried ice and permafrost-like traits, including temperatures close to 0°C and slightly negative values at depth—indicating possible temperate permafrost. Phase two aims for conclusive proof.

Running until March 2029, Permapyrenees-2 expands monitoring sites across the Pyrenees and incorporates advanced detection methods. Funded by the EU's Interreg Poctefa 2021-2027 programme with €1.76 million, it involves partners such as AR+I, the University of Barcelona, Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (IPE-CSIC), Cerema, Catalonia Telecommunications Technology Centre (CTTC), Kilian Jornet Foundation, and University of Perpignan Via Domitia.