For quite some time, environmentalists and scientists have warned us about the impact of global warming as weather patterns turn unpredictable and the changes are hinting at ominous developments. For example, cold climate regions are experiencing unprecedented heatwaves while draughts are impacting many regions of the world. However, the melting of permafrost in the arctic sea has scientists especially concerned.
Researchers using advanced satellite imagery revealed that the permafrost has started melting, leading to the formation of retrogressive thaw slumps and massive ice landslides.
Arctic seafloor landslides have grown manifold
The problematic aspect is that increased global carbon emissions have hastened the pace of warming, and instances of such artic seafloor landslides have grown manifold in the last few years. As a result, the area impacted by melting permafrost and resultant landslides can potentially be as big as Manhattan.
University of Ottawa’s Geography, Environment, and Geomatics professor Antoni Lewkowicz says, “We cannot stop thousands of thaw slumps once they start. We can only make changes in our own lives to reduce our carbon footprint, and we can encourage our politicians to take the necessary measures to help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. So that future warming is as limited as possible.”
Melting permafrost releases methane gas and carbon dioxide
Researchers believe the increasing summertime temperature is contributing to enhanced permafrost melting. However, the risk is not only about a rise in water level. The permafrost layer contains a range of organic materials. Once melting starts, these will disintegrate into methane gas and carbon dioxide, further contributing to global warming. Besides, sediments from the ice lumps in the Beaufort Sea will choke the adjacent rivers and lakes.
The permafrost is the permanently frozen layer positioned beneath the Earth’s surface in places like Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. It comprises layers of sand, soil, and gravel held by ice. The thickness may extend to hundreds of meters in some regions. It is said to contain carbon amounting to 1,500 billion tons. This comes from vast amounts of vegetation and soil in a frozen state.
Scientists have found some of the best-preserved animals and human remains in the permafrost. These include a 2,500-year-old human and a 39,000 years old baby mammoth corpse.
If permafrost melting continues unabated, researchers believe it can potentially impact the Arctic coasts. This will, in turn, affect the rich biodiversity and human life. Latest studies have indicated people living in the western Siberia region will be impacted the most.
The release of potentially harmful organisms and toxins
Additionally, new and unknown species of viruses and bacteria thriving under the ice layers has the potential to emerge. The arctic microbes adapted to survive in frigid temperatures, and so these could return to life when the layer melts.
The permafrost was also used to dump chemical, microbial, and viral hazards. This began during WWII and continued well after the Cold War era. Both the U.S. and Russia carried out nuclear testing and research in the region, which led to more radioactive waste in the arctic.
The Russians dumped over 100 decommissioned nuclear submarines in the region, thereby unleashing radioactive plutonium and cesium. As a result, Arctic radiation levels are significant, say the researchers. Decades of mining activities in the arctic also led to the release of toxic heavy metals like nickel, mercury, and arsenic into the permafrost. The permafrost supposedly contains 880,000 tons of mercury.
It is usual for the top layer of Arctic permafrost to melt and refreeze from time to time. However, scientists are worried about the rock-hard layers beneath the surface melting. This will unleash significant amounts of methane and CO2 into the atmosphere, accelerating ozone layer depletion.
University of Queensland’s microbiologist Ben Woodcroft says the sinking of the arctic ice layer is nothing new, but the accelerated melting without a pause will significantly impact global warming.
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