The permafrost monitoring network will be expanded in the Russian Federation to almost 100 points this year Russian scientists intend to expand the network of cryolithozone observation points from 78 to almost 100 by the end of 2026, the press service of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (his) reported on Tuesday. "The state permafrost background monitoring system will begin collecting information from nearly 100 observation points by the end of the year," the announcement said.