GTN-P at the ACOP Permafrost conference 2026

The Third Asian Conference on Permafrost (ACOP) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, provided an excellent opportunity for the Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) to engage with the international permafrost community. Throughout the conference week, GTN-P organized a community workshop, contributed to the scientific programme through a dedicated session and oral presentation, and participated in the Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN) workshop. Together, these activities created valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, strengthen collaborations, and connect with researchers across career stages.

Ahead of the conference, on Sunday, 28 June 2026, the GTN-P community gathered for an afternoon workshop with 42 participants representing 18 countries, including researchers across different career stages, GTN-P National Correspondents, Young National Correspondents, Steering Committee members, and the GTN-P Office. Following a welcome by GTN-P Chair Dmitry Streletskiy, GTN-P Executive Director Anna Irrgang presented recent developments within the network, including GTN-P’s role in coordinating the Permafrost Essential Climate Variable (ECV), its growing contributions to WMO activities, the newly established IPA Action Group PERMA-REQ, and the planned update of the global permafrost temperature synthesis paper. Three invited regional presentations by Jamabaljav Yamkhin, Dmitry Sergeev, and Farooq Azam highlighted permafrost monitoring activities in Mongolia, Siberia, and the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, demonstrating the diversity of monitoring approaches and opportunities to strengthen regional collaboration through GTN-P.

The second half of the workshop focused on the new GTN-P Data Platform. GTN-P Technical Director Tillmann Lübker introduced its new features for data upload, visualization, quality control, metadata management, and API access, while presenting planned developments such as DOI-based annual data products, NetCDF standardization, Rock Glacier Velocity data integration, and improved data exchange with national and international data centres. Particular attention was given to increasing the availability of Asian permafrost data within GTN-P.

The workshop concluded with breakout sessions on Asian data availability, further development of the GTN-P Data Platform, and the planned global permafrost temperature update paper. While these topics provided the framework for discussion, many participants naturally used the time for informal exchanges in smaller groups. As it was one of the first opportunities in several years for many colleagues from different regions to meet in person, the workshop became a vibrant space for reconnecting, exchanging ideas, and initiating new collaborations. The workshop demonstrated that advancing global permafrost observations goes hand in hand with fostering the international partnerships and personal connections that make such efforts possible.

Group photo from the GTN-P Workshop at ACOP 2026.

Beyond the workshop, GTN-P convened a dedicated scientific session and delivered an oral presentation during ACOP. GTN-P also contributed to the PYRN workshop, where Anna Irrgang introduced the network and shared personal reflections on balancing career development and parenthood, offering an honest perspective on the opportunities and challenges of building a scientific career alongside family life.

We sincerely thank all participants for their lively discussions and constructive feedback, the ACOP organizers for hosting the workshop, and the International Permafrost Association (IPA) for supporting both the workshop and conference participation through registration grants. ACOP 2026 provided an excellent platform to strengthen the global GTN-P community, engage the next generation of permafrost scientists, and further enhance GTN-P’s international visibility.

Dmitry Streletskiy welcoming participants to the GTN-P Workshop.

Anna Irrgang moderating the GTN-P Workshop.

Jamabaljav Yamkhin presenting at the GTN-P Workshop.

Farooq Azam presenting at the GTN-P Workshop.

Tillmann Lübker presenting at the GTN-P Workshop.