What happens when the permafrost thaws? | BBC Ideas

Summary

Permafrost, covering 11% of Earth's land, is crucial for global climate. As the Arctic warms faster than the rest of the planet, the active layer of permafrost is deepening, releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. This not only affects ecosystems and uncovers ancient remains but also accelerates climate change. Indigenous communities face the brunt of these changes, with melting permafrost causing infrastructure damage and landscape alterations. While permafrost melting presents potential for new opportunities like mining and agriculture, it also poses significant risks. The key to mitigating these impacts lies in addressing climate change and building resilient communities.

Takeaways

• 🌍 **Global Significance**: Permafrost covers about 11% of Earth's land mass, including half of Canada and two-thirds of Russia, and plays a crucial role in global climate.
• 🧊 **Definition**: Permafrost is frozen ground, composed of rock, sediment, or ice that remains below 0°C for at least two consecutive years.
• 🌡️ **Climate Change Impact**: The Arctic is warming 3-4 times faster than the rest of the planet, causing permafrost to thaw and the active layer to deepen by about 6 cm per year.
• 🌳 **Ecosystems Affected**: Permafrost supports various ecosystems, from forests to tundra, which are now threatened by the thawing process.
• ❄️ **Thawing Consequences**: Thawing permafrost can lead to the release of ancient viruses and the uncovering of woolly mammoths, among other things.
• 🌱 **Carbon Storage**: Permafrost locks up vast amounts of carbon, estimated to be four times more than all human-generated CO2 emissions in modern history.
• 🌬️ **Greenhouse Gas Emissions**: The release of carbon dioxide and methane from thawing permafrost can significantly contribute to climate warming.
• 🏠 **Human Impact**: Thawing permafrost disrupts human settlements, causing infrastructure damage like cracking buildings and roads.
• 🌱 **Potential Opportunities**: While permafrost thawing poses challenges, it may also open up new possibilities for mining and agriculture.
• 🌱 **Resilience and Adaptation**: Communities living on permafrost are adapting to changes, such as building resilient infrastructure, despite the challenges.

Q & A

What is permafrost?

Permafrost is ground, including rock, soil, or sediment, that remains at or below the freezing point of water (0°C or 32°F) for two or more consecutive years.

How much of the Earth's land mass is covered by permafrost?

Around 11% of the Earth's land mass is covered by permafrost.

What is the active layer in permafrost regions?

The active layer is the uppermost layer of soil that thaws in the summer and refreezes in the winter, sitting on top of the permafrost.

How is climate change affecting permafrost?

Climate change is causing permafrost to thaw at an accelerated rate, with the active layer deepening by about 6 cm per year on average over the last decade.

What are the potential consequences of thawing permafrost?

Thawing permafrost can lead to the release of ancient viruses, the uncovering of wooly mammoths, and the release of significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, exacerbating climate change.

How much carbon is estimated to be trapped in permafrost?

There is estimated to be four times more carbon trapped in permafrost than all of the human-generated CO2 emissions in modern history.

What is the impact of permafrost thaw on local communities?

Permafrost thaw can lead to the collapse of infrastructure, such as buildings and roads, and can cause landslides and changes in the landscape, affecting the lives of local communities.

What is the significance of permafrost for the global climate?

Permafrost acts as a carbon storage system. As it thaws, it releases greenhouse gases, which can significantly contribute to global warming.

What can be done to mitigate the effects of permafrost thaw?

The primary solution is to address climate change by reducing global warming. Additionally, communities can be made more resilient to the changes that are occurring.

How is the melting of permafrost affecting indigenous communities?

Indigenous communities are experiencing the direct effects of permafrost melting, such as the destabilization of their homes and traditional lands, leading to a sense of loss and the need for adaptation.

What are the potential opportunities that could arise from permafrost thawing?

Thawing permafrost could open up new areas for mining and potentially allow for the growth of new crops, although these opportunities could also contribute to further climate change.