Articles tagged with Permafrost
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Researchers found a 33% drop in total mercury concentrations in the Barents Sea during the polar night, attributed to a scavenging process involving manganese particles. This decrease in surface levels may lead to increased toxic mercury formation in sediments and potentially more methylmercury in Arctic food webs.
The thawing of permafrost soils could release massive amounts of greenhouse gases, exacerbating global warming. The Arctic regions are experiencing rapid changes in land and sea temperatures, threatening habitats and human populations.
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute found new indicators of permafrost thawing in Interior and Northwest Alaska. Talik formation, volumes of unfrozen ground within permafrost, will increase carbon movement and affect water quality.
A new study in Northern Sweden found that methane emissions from thawing permafrost can be reduced by a factor of 10 due to changes in hydrology, plant community, and microorganisms. As permafrost thaws, new plant species adapt to drier soil conditions, reducing methane transport and allowing bacteria to break it down.
A major new study is investigating the effects of beavers on the Arctic landscape, other animals, and local Indigenous communities. The project aims to understand the complex interlinkages between ecological and sociological changes as beaver numbers increase.
A new model predicts how oil and gas wells heat up the surrounding permafrost, causing it to thaw and release methane. The study shows that operating a single well for 30 years can melt the surrounding permafrost in a 10-meter radius, releasing up to 500,000 cubic meters of methane.
Researchers warn permafrost peatlands in Europe and Western Siberia are close to a climatic tipping point due to high carbon emissions. Strong action can preserve suitable climates for these ecosystems.
Researchers at Skoltech have developed a new method to monitor soil freezing, enabling the creation of safer and more stable structures in permafrost regions. The water potential method is fast, inexpensive, and applicable to various soil types, providing accurate estimates of freezing point and unfrozen water content.
Researchers used lake sediment in the Tibetan Plateau to estimate that high-elevation alpine permafrost will melt faster than arctic permafrost, releasing greenhouse gases and contributing to global temperature rise. The study suggests that up to 60% of alpine permafrost land area may be lost under current warming conditions.
A new study documents how thawing permafrost is affecting the seafloor in the Arctic Ocean, revealing dramatic changes including deep sinkholes and ice-filled hills. Researchers used advanced underwater mapping technology to track these changes, establishing a baseline for future monitoring.
Scientists at the University of Hamburg have calculated for the first time the future balance of Arctic coastal erosion, which increases by up to three meters per year with each degree of temperature increase. A shift towards greater sustainability could slow this process, but it's unlikely to stop land loss entirely.
A new study models radon production and its flow through soil, permafrost, and buildings, revealing that thawing permafrost can increase radon concentrations up to 100 times in basements. This poses a significant health risk to Arctic communities, particularly smokers.
A study found that thawing permafrost in the Arctic releases large amounts of previously unaccounted-for carbon dioxide, amplifying global warming. The research team determined that up to 80% of this CO2 comes from ancient organic matter and 18% from inorganic sources.
Researchers have found an unprecedented increase in winter stream flow rates over the last 25 years, with nearly 80% above average, driven by permafrost melt and forest fires. The combined effects of these factors are accelerating Arctic ice melt and exacerbating global warming.
A recent review highlights the devastating impact of permafrost thaw on infrastructure in the Arctic region, with damages ranging from less than 10% to as high as 80%. The region's transport and pipeline networks are particularly vulnerable, with costs projected to exceed 30 billion euros by 2060.
Rapid coastal erosion in the Arctic is driven by permafrost thawing, ground ice melting, and sea surface temperature rises. This leads to increased erosion, water pollution, and loss of habitats for local communities.
A new analysis of 70 years of data reveals that tundra fires significantly contribute to the decline of permafrost integrity in Arctic Alaska. The study found that fire was responsible for more than 10% of thermokarst formation, despite only burning 3% of the Arctic landscape.
Researchers have discovered ancient DNA in soil samples from the Yukon, revealing that mammoths and North American horses persisted until as recently as 5,000 years ago. The findings provide new insights into the population dynamics of megafauna and challenge previous beliefs about their extinction.
A previously unknown source of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide has been found in East Siberian Yedoma permafrost. The discovery highlights the significance of thawing permafrost as a globally important positive feedback to climate change.
Researchers led by NUS found that climate change is increasing fluvial sediment loads in the high mountains of Asia, with implications for hydropower, food, and environmental security. The study reveals that sediment fluxes could more than double by 2050 under an extreme climate change scenario.
Scientists found ancient bacteria in permafrost resistant to streptomycin, spectinomycin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline. Genome analysis revealed limited differences between ancient and modern strains, suggesting a potential threat to human health due to global warming.
A new study found black spruce trees' ability to regenerate after fire dropped by 38% and failed completely at 18% of sites. This trend threatens the iconic species' place as dominant tree species in boreal North America, with implications for biodiversity and carbon storage.
The study will quantify changes in Arctic sediment production and transport due to climate change, informing First Nation community planning. As temperatures rise, increased rock weathering and sediment production are expected to alter river habitats, posing risks to local ecosystems and communities.
Scientists have made significant gains in understanding the Arctic's carbon cycle by studying the transfer of dissolved organic carbon from land to ocean via rivers. The research highlights the importance of this process in coastal foodwebs and the impacts of climate change on freshwater export and DOC loading.
A new study suggests that thawing permafrost in Siberia may release large amounts of methane gas from limestone formations, posing a significant threat to global warming. Elevated methane concentrations were detected in two areas with limestone bedrock, indicating that fracture systems in these formations became permeable upon warming.
Researchers detected seasonal variations in seismic wave velocity due to changes in shallow permafrost ice content, attributed to temperature fluctuations. A linear decreasing trend in velocity was also found between 2009 and 2011, indicating an increasingly melted permafrost layer.
A study found that permafrost peatlands in Russia experienced a positive effect on the climate during a cool climate period, causing plant communities to dry up and release stored carbon. This led to increased emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, warming the atmosphere further.
Research found reduced microbial stability and increased soil organic carbon loss in degraded alpine permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This degradation can lead to a positive carbon-climate feedback, exacerbating global warming.
Researchers from Skoltech conducted experiments measuring gas permeability under various conditions for ice-containing sediments mimicking permafrost. The study showed high probability of increasing permeability coupled with dissociation of gas hydrates in permafrost, leading to methane emissions into the atmosphere.
Researchers found that Bdelloid rotifers can persist for at least 24,000 years in the Siberian permafrost and survive. The study suggests that these tiny animals have a mechanism to shield their cells and organs from harm at extremely low temperatures.
A new paper suggests that current carbon budgets fail to account for permafrost thawing and Arctic feedback loops, exacerbating warming and potentially triggering an exponential increase in emissions. Global leaders are urged to incorporate the latest science into climate models and update risk assessments to meet climate goals.
A study highlights the significant impact of permafrost thaw on carbon emissions and climate goals. The authors warn that permafrost thaw is expected to increase as temperatures rise, potentially exacerbating global warming beyond the 2°C limit.
Researchers found that Arctic permafrost thawing events occurred more frequently in the past than predicted, with minimal impact on atmospheric CO2 levels. The study suggests that gradual thawing events may have been absorbed by oceans or plants, contradicting typical global warming predictions.
A study reconstructs permafrost's history over the last 1.5 million years, revealing that it shifted to a more stable state around 400,000 years ago. This stability suggests that more carbon is locked in the ground, potentially leading to greater climate change releases when thawing occurs.
A new study by a University of Copenhagen researcher finds that thawing permafrost in Alaska causes colder water in smaller rivers and streams. This unexpected consequence of climate change could affect the survival of fish species in the Arctic's offshore waters, as warmer air temperatures cause frozen soil to thaw.
Researchers developed a method using satellite imagery to measure the depth of thaw directly above permafrost in boreal ecosystems by analyzing variations in forest color. This approach provides more accurate estimates of permafrost depth, essential for climate modeling and monitoring permafrost thaw rates.
A four-year study will assess Siberia's permafrost expansion and contraction in response to climate change. The research team combines archives of permafrost ice, cave deposits, and crustacean fossils to reconstruct past temperatures and regional climate histories.
Researchers from Skoltech and Russian Academy of Sciences have surveyed the newest known 30-meter deep gas blowout crater on the Yamal Peninsula, forming a 3D model to study its structure and composition. The 3D model reveals a unique underground cavity with an elliptical shape and a circular dome, providing clues about the crater's en...
ORNL's Amanzi-ATS model simulates groundwater flow in Arctic ecosystems, revealing the impact of thawing permafrost on stream temperatures. New cobalt and nickel superalloys remain crack-free and defect-resistant in extreme heat, enabling metal-based 3D printing applications.
A new study on submarine permafrost suggests that frozen land beneath rising sea levels traps significant amounts of methane and organic carbon, with potential impacts on climate. Researchers estimate that submarine permafrost could release up to 500 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere over hundreds of years.
The report reveals growing risk factors including permafrost emissions, weakening carbon uptake, and climate change impacts on freshwater and mental health. It also highlights the untapped potential of green COVID-19 recovery packages and the need for a new social contract to cope with transboundary risks.
A new explanation for Arctic rapid warming proposes that great earthquakes in the Aleutian Arc triggered the phenomenon. These events released methane from permafrost, leading to climate warming.
Researchers estimate that subsea permafrost currently traps 60 billion tons of methane and 560 billion tons of organic carbon. The region releases approximately 140 million tons of CO2 and 5.3 million tons of CH4 to the atmosphere each year.
A remarkably preserved 57,000-year-old wolf pup named Zhùr has been uncovered in the Yukon, offering a unique window into the lives of ancient wolves. The mummy's genome analysis revealed that she was descended from wolves from Russia and Siberia, and her diet consisted mainly of aquatic resources like salmon.
A new permafrost thermal stability map for the Tibetan Plateau has been created with high accuracy, using a combination of ground observation data and remote sensing big data. The map divides the permafrost into five zones, providing critical information for engineering planning and water resource management in the region.
Research team finds that bacteria can use iron as a food source, releasing bound organic carbon into the water in thawing permafrost. This accelerates greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
Scientists from CNRS and Melnikov Permafrost Institute conduct cold room simulation to demonstrate permafrost's role in soil collapse. Heterogeneous frozen soils with vertical ice wedges undergo major deformation during thawing, accelerating subsidence and greenhouse gas release.
Even if human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to zero, global temperatures may continue to rise for centuries due to self-sustained melting of permafrost. To prevent projected temperature and sea level rises, all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions would need to be reduced to zero between 1960 and 1970.
Researchers are using a new technology to monitor the movement of thawing Arctic permafrost. A 1.5-kilometer fiber-optic cable will be turned into a long line of vibration sensors to collect seismic data and predict future behavior of the thawing permafrost.
New research reveals that coastal permafrost is largely absent in shallow seafloor areas, contrary to previous beliefs. This finding suggests that carbon can be released from coastline sources more easily, potentially exacerbating climate change.
Researchers found evidence of past permafrost thawing in Arctic Ocean sediments during past climate warming events. The study suggests that even a few degrees Celsius of Arctic warming could trigger massive permafrost thawing and release of greenhouse gases, posing a risk to the climate system.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki found that thawing permafrost releases volatile organic compounds, including monoterpenes and diterpenes, which can be highly reactive and contribute to cloud formation. The study's findings introduce new uncertainties to climate change modeling.
The Arctic wildfire season is changing, with widespread wildfires burning earlier and farther north. Zombie fires, where fires smolder in peat underground, are a new feature of recent Arctic fires. The consequences for the global climate could be significant, including rapid thawing of permafrost and release of greenhouse gases.
Permafrost erosion in Siberia's Lena Delta has increased by nearly 16 metres since the 1960s, with 15-20 metre annual losses reported. The thawing releases significant amounts of carbon and nitrogen, intensifying the greenhouse effect.
Scientific research predicts large increases in mercury concentrations in Yukon River fish and water under high carbon emissions scenarios. For the low-emissions scenario, mercury concentrations are expected to increase by only about 14%.
New research estimates that mercury concentrations in fish and water of the Yukon River could double by 2100 under a high emissions scenario. If greenhouse gas emissions are not constrained, mercury concentrations may exceed EPA criterion by 2050, with significant impacts for the environment and global climate.
Northern peatlands store large amounts of carbon and nitrogen, but are vulnerable to permafrost thaw under climate change. If thawed, these peatlands could become a source of atmospheric carbon, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study shows that increased summer rainfall in Alaska is degrading permafrost across the state. The research team took 2750 measurements of how far below the land's surface permafrost had thawed by the end of summer, finding that more rainfall led to deeper thaw across all sites.
Research at Umea University reveals that plant roots can cause the emission of 40 billion tonnes of carbon from permafrost by 2100 through the priming effect. This increase is significant enough to account for almost a quarter of the remaining 'carbon budget' for limiting global warming.
A University of Michigan study found that organic carbon in thawing permafrost soils can be converted to carbon dioxide by sunlight, known as photomineralization. This process could contribute an additional 14% of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing global warming by 0.3-0.4°C.