What happens when the permafrost thaws? | BBC Ideas

Summary

Permafrost, covering 11% of Earth's land, is crucial for global climate. It stores vast amounts of carbon, but as the Arctic warms faster than the rest of the planet, permafrost is thawing, releasing CO2 and methane. This not only threatens to unleash ancient viruses but also creates a feedback loop, accelerating climate change. Impacts include landscape changes, infrastructure damage, and the potential release of trapped organic matter. Communities in the Arctic face these challenges, adapting to a changing environment. The script calls for informed decisions to build resilience against these changes and highlights the interconnectedness of human and natural environments.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Permafrost covers around 11% of the Earth's land mass, including significant portions of Canada, Russia, and the Tibetan Plateau.
• 🧊 Permafrost is defined as rock, sediment, or ice that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years.
• 🏔 The Arctic permafrost is typically a few thousand years old, while some in Antarctica is millions of years old.
• ☀️ The Arctic is warming at three to four times the rate of the rest of the planet, causing the permafrost to thaw.
• 🌡️ The active layer of permafrost, which thaws and freezes annually, has been deepening by about 6 cm per year over the last decade.
• 🌳 Thawing permafrost can lead to the release of ancient viruses and the potential uncovering of woolly mammoths.
• 🌿 Permafrost acts as a carbon storage, locking up carbon from dead vegetation over thousands of years.
• 🌎 The release of carbon dioxide and methane from thawing permafrost can significantly impact the climate.
• 🏠 Thawing permafrost causes ground instability, leading to the collapse of structures and the formation of thermokarst mega slumps.
• 🌍 Indigenous communities in the Arctic are experiencing the direct effects of permafrost thaw, including the loss of land and cultural disruption.
• 🔄 While permafrost thaw presents challenges, it also offers potential opportunities for mining and agriculture, albeit with risks to climate change.

Q & A

What is permafrost?

Permafrost is rock, sediment, or ice that remains at or below 0°C for two or more consecutive years. It's essentially frozen ground that can be found in regions like the Arctic, Antarctic, and the Tibetan Plateau.

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

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

What is the active layer in permafrost regions?

The active layer is the surface layer of soil that thaws and freezes on an annual basis, 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 dangers of thawing permafrost?

Thawing permafrost can release ancient viruses, cause the ground to become unstable leading to landslides and the formation of thermokarst mega slumps, and release large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, exacerbating climate change.

How much carbon is estimated to be trapped in permafrost?

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

What is the impact of permafrost thawing on local communities?

Permafrost thawing can cause infrastructure damage, such as cracking buildings and roads, and can lead to the displacement of communities as the ground becomes unstable.

What is the role of the active layer in supporting ecosystems?

The active layer allows for various ecosystems to exist on top of the permafrost, ranging from forests to tundra.

How is the Arctic warming compared to the rest of the planet?

The Arctic is warming at three to four times the rate of the rest of the planet.

What are the potential new possibilities 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 could also contribute to climate change.

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

The primary solution is to address climate change by reducing global warming. Additionally, building resilient communities that can adapt to the changes brought on by permafrost thawing is crucial.