Articles tagged with Permafrost
Researchers discovered that significant amounts of terrestrial carbon are stored in the seabed, with microorganisms preferring fresh marine carbon over ancient terrestrial sources. This knowledge is essential for assessing the climate impact of thawing permafrost and its effects on atmospheric greenhouse gas levels.
The Arctic river deltas store a significant amount of carbon, with 57.5 gigatonnes stored in just 1% of the global permafrost surface. Climate change is destabilizing these regions, causing thawing and releasing more carbon into the atmosphere.
Thawing permafrost is causing Arctic rivers to turn toxic with orange iron particles, suffocating insects and smothering fish. The process also involves acid rock drainage, where pyrite breaks down into sulfuric acid and sulfate, creating rust-like particles.
A Umea University study finds that ice actively accelerates the dissolution of iron minerals, potentially releasing more iron than current environmental models account for. This could have significant cascading effects on ecosystems, particularly in polar and mountain regions.
Researchers use tree rings and satellites to date changes beavers make to the tundra landscape as they spread northwards. The study provides evidence of beaver colonization in the region starting in 2008, with satellite analysis revealing a significant expansion of surface water between 2015 and 2019.
A recent study reveals that Alaskan permafrost is thawing rapidly, leading to increased runoff, carbon releases, and altered coastal ecosystems. The research focused on a Wisconsin-sized area of Alaska's North Slope, simulating daily river flows and coastal exports over 44 years.
A new study found that some Arctic regions regain their 'greenness' within a decade of a sudden permafrost collapse, while others can take centuries or more to recover. The difference is directly related to each site's gross primary productivity, allowing scientists to predict how long it will take a specific site to recover after a pe...
Research by University of Leeds researchers found that thawing permafrost makes it 25-100 times more permeable, releasing large amounts of greenhouse gases. This could lead to a self-reinforcing process, exacerbating climate change.
Climate warming significantly increases plant growth in permafrost regions by altering growing seasons and root penetration, but its impact depends on nitrogen supply. A new study reveals that moss-associated biological nitrogen fixation is a critical factor in sustaining plant growth under warming conditions.
A recent study co-authored by NAU researchers found that fires in northern Canada have a net cooling effect when coupled with snowpack, but this is outweighed by the warming effects of permafrost carbon released from fires in Alaska. This highlights the need for land and fire managers to reconsider how wildland fires are managed.
A new study reveals that 16% of the Arctic Ocean's dissolved organic carbon comes from land, primarily from thawing permafrost and coastal erosion. This finding has significant implications for understanding how terrestrial organic matter affects Arctic marine ecosystems and the ocean's ability to store CO2.
Researchers have resurrected ancient microbes stuck in permafrost for up to 40,000 years, which can break down organic matter and release carbon dioxide. The study's findings suggest that thawing permafrost could lead to a vicious cycle of greenhouse gas emissions, with significant implications for the Arctic and global climate.
In a new study, researchers from Umeå University found that ice at minus ten degrees Celsius releases more iron from common minerals than liquid water at four degrees Celsius. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles increase dissolution, releasing organic compounds and fuelling further chemical reactions.
Research finds that microbial carbon use efficiency rises following abrupt permafrost thaw, driven by shifts in community composition and nutrient availability. This increase may promote the incorporation of microbial-derived compounds into soil, fostering stable carbon formation.
Researchers found evidence that the Asian continent was free of permafrost when Earth's average temperature was 4.5˚C warmer than today. The study suggests that a 4.5˚C rise in global temperatures would release up to 130 billion tonnes of carbon currently frozen in the ground.
New research warns that global policies may lead to triggering of multiple climate tipping points, with a 62% risk on average. However, sustainable future pathways with lower greenhouse gas emissions can significantly reduce this risk.
Researchers developed a method that uses high-resolution satellite imagery and deep machine learning to double the mapped infrastructure of Alaska, more accurately projecting economic risks associated with permafrost thaw. The new model nearly doubles the amount of information available for Alaska on OpenStreetMap.
A recent study refines Siberia's land cover data using machine learning techniques, revealing a high-precision map that enhances climatic predictions. The new dataset improves assessments of carbon flux and ecosystem changes, providing essential insights for climate scientists.
Researchers have discovered a protein called MdfA that enables bacteria to shut down into dormant spores under extreme conditions. This process allows bacteria to survive in uninhabitable places and evade hospital cleaning, making them potentially deadly superbugs.
The study highlights four key hazards of permafrost thaw: infrastructure failure, disruptions to mobility and supply chains, declining water quality, and increased exposure to diseases and contaminants. Climate change is accelerating Arctic permafrost thaw, posing significant risks to both the environment and human communities.
Researchers will use airborne GPR and ground-based TEM to collect rich geophysical data, estimating carbon storage and gas emissions in peatlands across a latitudinal gradient. The project aims to reduce uncertainty in these predictions and provide valuable information on how to better protect carbon stocks.
A small amount of Arctic groundwater releases an estimated 230 tons of organic carbon per day along Alaska's coastline, contributing to climate change and ocean acidification. This discovery highlights the significant role of freshwater discharge in the Arctic Ocean.
A new study found that 34% of the Arctic-boreal zone is now a source of carbon, with fires and microbial activity contributing to emissions. The research provides a comprehensive assessment of carbon fluxes in the region, highlighting the importance of monitoring these processes.
A recent study found that extreme climate events in fall 2022 pushed thousands of lakes in West Greenland across a tipping point, leading to changes in water quality, chemical properties, and biodiversity. The lakes, which previously provided drinking water and sequestered carbon, now emit more carbon dioxide.
A comprehensive study reveals five key hazards associated with thawing permafrost soils: infrastructure failure, disrupted mobility and supply, decreased water quality, challenges for food security, and exposure to diseases and contaminants. The researchers found that these risks have significant implications for the health and well-be...
A new study reveals the Arctic is experiencing extreme climate changes, with Siberia and Alaska facing significant warming and drying. Permafrost is a common factor in vulnerable regions, and local data can support more effective management and adaptation approaches.
A new study maps Arctic coastal communities and infrastructure, revealing that 21% of settlements will face damage due to erosion, while 45% will be affected by sea level rise. By 2100, 77% of the Arctic infrastructure may sit on ground no longer frozen solid.
Scientists warn that Alaska's Arctic Coastal Plain will experience unprecedented transformation due to the compounding effects of sea level rise, permafrost thaw subsidence, and erosion. By 2100, total land loss is expected to exceed erosional losses by up to eight times, posing new challenges to coastal communities.
A new NASA-led study finds that the Earth's far northern permafrost region has become a net contributor to global warming due to methane emissions. The thawing permafrost is releasing stored carbon as greenhouse gases, shifting the region from being a sink to a source of warming.
A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters refines permafrost loss estimates for High Mountain Asia (HMA) under future warming. By adjusting climate sensitivity values, the researchers found that HMA permafrost area could shrink by 37% to 64% under mid- and low-emission scenarios by 2081-2100.
Researchers will map carbon distribution, identify high-risk areas, and inform fire suppression strategies to maximize carbon storage in the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. The project aims to address the growing threat of permafrost thaw, which could release 1,700 billion metric tons of carbon.
Researchers have discovered large underwater ice formations at the edge of the Canadian Beaufort Sea, revealing an unanticipated mechanism for submarine permafrost ice formation. The newly formed ice is created by melting ancient permafrost and refreezing as brackish groundwater approaches the seafloor.
A new study warns that future climate change will intensify wildfires in the Arctic region, leading to an abrupt switch from no fires to very intense ones within just a few years. The accelerated permafrost thawing is expected to increase soil water and vegetation biomass, exacerbating fire fuel.
Researchers at USC Dornsife introduce a new method to measure mercury released from permafrost, estimating the total amount awaiting release. The study finds that sediment samples provide a reliable measure of mercury content and offer deeper insight into the permafrost's hidden dangers.
A recent study by UT Arlington scientist Nathan D. Brown shows Alaskan land is eroding faster than it can be replaced due to climate change. The team mapped and dated floodplain deposits, determining permafrost extent, to model how permafrost formation varies with air temperature.
The Tibetan Plateau's permafrost active layer has shown significant interdecadal changes since 2000, with a decrease in overall thickness and regional inconsistencies. Environmental factors such as temperature and precipitation significantly impact the active layer's transformation under global warming.
A study by AWI experts reveals that permafrost soils are thawing in step with global warming, but there is no evidence of a single global tipping point. Instead, numerous local and regional tipping points will be exceeded at different times and warming levels, leading to cumulative effects.
Scientists have found that microorganisms in the Arctic permafrost can break down polyphenols, previously thought to be untouchable, producing more greenhouse gas emissions. This new discovery has implications for understanding the role of soil microbes in climate change.
Soil carbon dioxide emissions are more sensitive to climate warming in permafrost-collapsed areas, releasing about 5.5 times more CO2 than non-collapsed areas. The study found that thermokarst formation increases the temperature sensitivity of CO2 release.
Scientists at UMass Amherst used satellite data, field observations, and numerical modeling to predict the Arctic's future ecosystem changes due to thawing permafrost. The study reveals up to 30% more subsurface runoff and altered river flows, impacting ecosystems and potentially slowing climate change.
The Arctic Landscape EXplorer (ALEX) provides spatially explicit information on recent or ongoing thaw and erosion in the Arctic. ALEX contains data on satellite-derived trends in land surface changes at 30m resolution, offering insights into permafrost stability and its impact on infrastructure and communities.
New research reveals permafrost's dominant role in shaping Arctic rivers and storing massive amounts of carbon. Thawing permafrost could unleash billions of tons of CO2, exacerbating climate change.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that Greenland consumes more methane than it releases, with dry landscapes absorbing over 65,000 tons annually. The study's findings contribute significantly to climate models and provide insights into the optimal soil conditions for methane uptake in the Arctic.
Most Earth System Models lack accurate representation of permafrost dynamics, a crucial factor in future climate projections. Funding constraints and limited resources are preventing model development from capturing the full scope of complex permafrost processes.
A new AI model has improved permafrost mapping by creating high-resolution maps of Arctic thawing, providing a tool for protecting infrastructure. The model achieved 83% accuracy in matching field data with its predictions, outperforming the widely used pan-arctic model.
Researchers used a fiber optic cable to study the Arctic seafloor's seismic structure and temperature. They identified areas with large amounts of ice and detected changes in temperature over seasons, which will help understand global climate change.
Scientists have discovered vast quantities of methane trapped beneath Svalbard's permafrost, which could migrate and escape if it thaws. This could create a cycle of warming, exacerbating the climate crisis and accelerating global warming.
Research reveals that lightning ignitions account for 77% of burned areas in intact extratropical forests, which store vast quantities of carbon. Climate change is projected to increase lightning frequency, posing a significant threat to these forests and the planet's carbon storage.
The Arctic Permafrost Atlas reveals alarming changes in landscapes, ecosystems, and human lives due to climate change. Over five million people are at risk of losing frozen ground beneath their feet by 2050, with significant economic implications for oil and gas production.
UCI scientists discover that deeper Arctic snowpack is thawing ancient permafrost reserves, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. This process can accelerate emissions even if human-caused climate change is stopped.
A new study suggests that ancient pathogens trapped in melting permafrost could cause significant ecological damage, with up to 3% of invasive pathogens becoming dominant. The researchers found that these 'time-traveling' pathogens could lead to unpredictable results, including up to one-third of host species dying out.
A new study by Flinders University researchers suggests that only 1% of dormant pathogens could cause major ecological harm, leading to the loss of host organisms worldwide. The simulations showed that these ancient microbes can survive, evolve, and become dominant in modern ecosystems, posing a substantial danger.
A soil nematode was reanimated from 46,000-year-old Siberian permafrost, shedding light on its ability to survive harsh conditions. The species, Panagrolaimus kolymaensis, shares molecular tools for survival with C. elegans.
Researchers discovered a new nematode species in Siberian permafrost with molecular toolkit for survival, sharing similarities with Caenorhabditis elegans. The species, Panagrolaimus kolymaensis, can survive extreme conditions by producing trehalose and mild dehydration exposure.
A virtual reality project, Qikiqtaruk: Arctic at Risk, visualizes the impacts of climate change in the Canadian Arctic. The project, created by National Geographic Explorers and local communities, uses immersive technology to transport users to an island experiencing rapid thawing and environmental changes.
Research estimates that continental landmasses have absorbed 23.8 x 10^21 Joules of heat between 1960 and 2020, with most stored up to 300m deep in the earth. This increase poses risks to ecosystems and food security due to associated warming and changes in water quality.
A long-term study at the University of Eastern Finland reveals a significant reduction in palsa area by over 75% from 1959 to 2021. Climate change has only a limited impact on active layer thickness, contradicting expectations.
A study by University of Cologne researchers found that 25-35% of permafrost's organic carbon is bound to mineral particles, making it harder for microorganisms to utilize. This complex binding process affects the release of greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost.
The Arctic permafrost is home to thousands of industrial sites storing hazardous substances. As climate change accelerates thawing, these contaminants can be released, causing irreparable damage to ecosystems. The study estimates 13,000 to 20,000 contaminated sites in the region.
Researchers used a 3D radar scan to reveal that Malaspina Glacier is undercut by channels, making it more vulnerable to melting and potentially contributing significantly to global sea level rise. The glacier's bulk sits below sea level, and its coastal barrier erodes, allowing ocean water to access the glacier and accelerate its retreat.