How to study a swiftly melting climate disaster

I helicoptered into the Alaskan wilderness with scientists on the frontlines of permafrost research.

James Temple

Andrew Haverdink, a tall grad student in a rain bib and rubber boots, wrenched a double-handed drill from the frozen soil that underlies much of Alaska’s Denali National Park and then unclipped the hollow barrel from the end of the bit.

He knelt in front of a blue tarp, lined the barrel up with a plastic tray, and pushed a rod through the opposite…