Articles tagged with Permafrost
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recent research suggests that nitrogen in permafrost soils could be a major contributor to climate change, with potentially significant consequences. Scientists are studying the decomposition of organic matter and its impact on nitrogen availability, which could lead to high N2O emissions.
New research reveals consistent patterns in permafrost soils across Alaska's North Slope, allowing scientists to predict how carbon and greenhouse gases are released. The findings will help improve climate models by providing direct permafrost soil information, filling a knowledge gap that has been around for 30 years.
Available data indicate heavy metal levels in some Alaskan soils often exceed average US levels, with critical gaps in monitoring due to limited publicly available data. The study highlights the need for further sampling near human populations and in permafrost-heavy regions to clarify exposure risks.
Researchers found that horse herds can significantly slow the loss of permafrost soils, preserving 80% of them until 2100. The approach, inspired by a Russian experiment, uses large herbivores to manipulate snow cover and reduce freezing temperatures.
A study published in Science found that methane emissions from ancient carbon reservoirs are small and do not reach the atmosphere in large quantities. Researchers believe natural buffers such as ocean microbes and bacteria help prevent the release of methane.
A new CU Boulder-led study finds that abrupt permafrost thaw is a significant contributor to climate change, with potential carbon emissions doubling previous estimates. The rapid thawing of permafrost in the Arctic region has severe consequences on landscapes and ecosystems.
The decomposition of organic matter in permafrost soil during winter months can release substantial amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, exceeding summer uptake. By 2100, this could increase by 41% if current greenhouse gas emissions continue.
Researchers discovered that fungi associated with shallow-rooted tundra shrubs can access deep nitrogen stores from thawing permafrost, regardless of the plant's root system. This finding has implications for understanding the fate of nitrogen in a warming Arctic and potentially offsetting carbon losses.
A recent study published in Science Advances finds that global warming is the primary cause of extensive wildfires in Siberia. The research reveals that climate conditions, such as changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature, play a crucial role in fire spread.
A new study reveals that a sea-ice-free Arctic will accelerate the melting of permafrost, leading to significant releases of carbon dioxide. The research, based on ancient cave stalagmites, suggests that past periods without summer sea ice were associated with warmer air and increased snowfall in Siberia, destabilizing the permafrost.
Researchers at Skoltech and Heriot-Watt University developed a method to extract methane from permafrost hydrates by injecting flue gases, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Arctic. The new technology also reduces carbon dioxide emissions by forming hydrates that replace original methane hydrates.
A new analysis reveals significant increases in subsurface runoff and cold season discharge due to thawing permafrost. This shift is expected to alter the Arctic water cycle, with implications for coastal ecosystems and nutrient cycling.
A NASA-funded study reveals that winter carbon dioxide loss from the Arctic permafrost region could increase by 41% over the next century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace. This would mark a stark reversal for the Arctic, which has captured and stored carbon for tens of thousands of years.
A new study found that eroding permafrost coastlines in the Arctic can release significant quantities of carbon dioxide, potentially exacerbating climate change. The research simulated erosion effects in a lab experiment and found CO2 was released as rapidly from thawing permafrost in seawater as it is from thawing permafrost on land.
Karen Lloyd's research focuses on the effects of thawing permafrost on the environment, examining microbial processes that break down soil organic carbon and release greenhouse gases. By understanding these processes, future predictions can be made about the impact of microbial communities' activities on changes in released gases.
Researchers from McGill University project abrupt changes in the Arctic climate and permafrost, potentially leading to increased wildfires. The study suggests a doubling of wildfire severity over one year in regions like the Northwestern Territories and Yukon.
The Permafrost Discovery Gateway provides a detailed picture of Arctic change, combining satellite data with air temperature and precipitation maps. The platform helps inform policies and management in the Arctic by offering a user-friendly tool to explore rapid climate changes.
Researchers discovered thriving bacterial communities in ancient, isolated brine samples from an Alaskan cryopeg. The findings provide insights into the potential for life on Mars and other planetary bodies.
Researchers observed increased methanogenesis genes at upper layers of warming permafrost, while carbohydrate metabolism genes were more abundant at shallower depths. This study provides insight into tundra microbial responses to experimental warming.
A rapid retreat of Arctic coastline has been revealed through drone surveys, showing a 14.5-meter erosion over a 40-day period. The study highlights the impacts of climate change on permafrost landscapes, with storms causing increasing damage to coastal areas.
A recent study published in Environmental Research Letters reveals widespread retrogressive thaw slumps in the Canadian high Arctic, which develop as permafrost melts and landslides. The research found that the warming climate is initiating these changes, particularly during unusually warm summers.
Researchers found that salt migration into thawing permafrost accelerates gas hydrate dissociation and releases methane. This discovery explains the massive methane emissions from the East Siberian Arctic Shelf.
Researchers used radiocarbon dating to track carbon release from thawing permafrost in Siberian-Arctic rivers. The study found that permafrost and peat carbon contributed significantly to dissolved organic carbon in the rivers, with seasonal differences suggesting gradual thaw of surface permafrost as the main source.
A recent study reveals that around 17% of total organic carbon in Siberian rivers originates from thawing permafrost and peat deposits. The research found that particulate organic carbon contributed to more than half of the river's total organic content.
A new report highlights the urgent need for monitoring and modeling of Arctic permafrost due to rapid collapse, which can lead to catastrophic consequences such as subsidence, flooding, and landslides. The researchers estimate that this abrupt thaw could double the climate feedback associated with permafrost thawing.
A recent study reveals that thawing Alaskan permafrost is releasing about twelve times higher amounts of nitrous oxide than previously assumed, making it a significant contributor to global warming. The potent greenhouse gas can stay in the atmosphere for up to 114 years, posing an additional threat to the ozone layer.
A study from U of T Mississauga uses new techniques to reconstruct summer temperatures over the last 13,600 years, confirming current global warming trends. The research reveals that recent climate warming in the central Yukon region has surpassed the warmest temperatures experienced in the previous 13,600 years.
Climate change is causing retrogressive thaw slumps to form on Banks Island, leading to a 60-fold increase in landslides since the 1980s. The impact on aquatic ecosystems and fish populations is unknown due to lack of baseline data.
A new study found that Arctic permafrost peatlands can add to atmospheric CO2 burden post-thaw, strengthening the permafrost-carbon feedback. However, these ecosystems also have a strong methane sink capacity, potentially compensating for part of the permafrost CO2 losses over longer timescales.
A new IIASA study suggests that it is possible to neutralize the natural gas threat from thawing permafrost in the Arctic by controlling human emissions. The researchers found that reducing man-made methane emissions can outweigh a large Arctic natural emission increase, making it manageable.
A recent study reveals that permafrost temperatures have risen globally, with continuous permafrost warming by 0.39°C and discontinuous permafrost by 0.20°C between 2007 and 2016. This increase in permafrost temperature has severe consequences, including the release of carbon dioxide and methane, which speed up global warming.
The world's permafrost soils have warmed by an average of 0.3 degrees Celsius between 2007 and 2016, according to a new global study. This warming poses significant threats to infrastructure and the environment, including increased carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
New research reveals record amounts of mercury released into waterways through thawing permafrost, contaminating downstream ecosystems. Climate change exacerbates the issue, highlighting the need for further study on mercury cycling and its impact on Arctic food webs.
A new study warns that 70% of current Arctic infrastructure is at risk from thawing permafrost within the next 30 years. The projected impacts could lead to major ecosystem disruption and adverse effects on energy supplies, national security, and economic activity.
A new study finds that organisms with small genomes and cells are well-suited for life in hot soils, even in extreme conditions. The research reveals a link between these microbes and ancient permafrost genome sizes, sparking questions about the minimum requirements for cell and genome size.
A new study found that Arctic shrubs can lead to significant degradation of the permafrost layer, creating pathways for increased water and carbon flow. The interactions between shrubs and snow are driving increases in discharges of fresh water into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Researchers at Portland State University found that millions of cubic meters of buried ice have melted in the last decade, leading to unprecedented change over Antarctica's historic period. The culprit is believed to be meltwater, which can conduct heat and cause rapid changes.
Researchers found that rapidly thawing permafrost in the western Canadian Arctic is enhancing mineral weathering, driven by sulfuric acid. This process releases substantial CO2 into surrounding water and air, contributing to climate warming.
A new study accounts for permafrost carbon release in emission budgets, showing the world may exceed Paris climate targets sooner than thought. Permafrost thaw causes large amounts of previously trapped carbon to be released into the atmosphere, making it a critical factor in estimating emission budgets.
A recent study by Alfred Wegener Institute researchers found that the loss of Arctic permafrost through coastal erosion led to significant increases in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere during the last glacial period. This phenomenon is now being studied to understand its potential impact on future climate warming.
River greenhouse gas emissions from Siberia's Ob River peak in areas where permafrost degrades, emitting large parts of the carbon received. This finding highlights the importance of studying Western Siberian rivers' role in the global carbon cycle.
Scientists at University of Copenhagen find thawing permafrost releases high diversity of VOCs, harming human health and forests, but also producing clouds that may cool climate.
Researchers found that abrupt thawing more than doubles previous estimates of permafrost-derived greenhouse warming. The process increases ancient carbon stored in soil by 125-190 percent compared to gradual thawing alone.
A new study finds that abrupt thawing of permafrost beneath thermokarst lakes can release significant amounts of greenhouse gases, including methane and carbon, potentially doubling the release from terrestrial landscapes by the 2050s. This could lead to a significant feedback effect on climate change.
A new understanding of thawing permafrost in Sweden could improve predictions and guide efforts to slow climate damage. Scientists have identified more than 1,500 microbial genomes and 1,900 new viral populations, shedding light on the role of microbes in methane production.
A University of Queensland-led study links microbial communities and biogeochemistry to rising greenhouse gas emissions from thawing permafrost. The research, using sequencing techniques, identified new microorganisms involved in complex biochemical networks producing greenhouse gases.
Researchers examine thawing permafrost's effect on coastal waters, river-borne matter, and greenhouse gas emissions. The study aims to understand changes in the Arctic marine environment and its impact on global climate change.