"Thawing permafrost is among climate science's worst positive feedback loops: As the world warms, permafrost thaws, releasing fresh water and carbon into the environment, which further fuels climate change."
"In a new study, researchers tracked how thawing permafrost in a Wisconsin-sized section of the North Slope region of Alaska has added fresh water and dissolved organic carbon to estuaries off the Alaskan coast between 1980 and 2023."
"In more recent years, the region released nearly 12 cubic kilometers (three trillion gallons) per year, more water than it did from 1980 to 1984, enough to fill more than 4.5 million Olympic swimming pools."
"Fresh water is a problem for the ocean; it disrupts sea ice formation, alters the salinity of coastal lagoons and bays, and could threaten global ocean circulation."
Thawing permafrost in Alaska is accelerating, releasing three trillion gallons of water each year, significantly more than in the early 1980s. This Wisconsin-sized region contributes fresh water and dissolved organic carbon to coastal estuaries, impacting sea ice formation and altering salinity levels. The influx of fresh water threatens global ocean circulation and releases carbon into the atmosphere, further fueling climate change. The study highlights the urgent need to address the consequences of thawing permafrost on the environment and climate systems.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]