W5: What happens when the permafrost thaws?

Summary

CTV's W5 investigates the alarming thawing of permafrost in Canada, a phenomenon exacerbating climate change by releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. The documentary reveals how this ecological disaster is reshaping landscapes, threatening infrastructure, and endangering communities in the North. Scientists warn of the potential release of ancient diseases and the urgent need for action to mitigate the devastating impacts by the end of the century.

Takeaways

• 🌡️ Climate change is causing permafrost in Canada and the Arctic to thaw, leading to significant environmental damage.
• 🌍 Half of Canada sits on permafrost, and its melting threatens landscapes, ecosystems, and communities.
• 🏞️ Permafrost functions like cement, holding the land together. As it thaws, landscapes collapse, causing road damage and landslides.
• 🌬️ The release of trapped carbon from permafrost is a major concern, with the potential to release greenhouse gases, worsening global warming.
• 📉 Permafrost in the Arctic contains 1,500 billion tons of carbon, which is double the amount currently in the Earth's atmosphere.
• 🏘️ Communities in the far north, like Tuktoyaktuk, are already losing land and homes as the permafrost melts and coastal erosion accelerates.
• 🌋 The thawing of permafrost is causing lakes to collapse, homes to move, and coastal lands to vanish, at rates up to 50 meters per year.
• 🦠 Thawing permafrost poses health risks, as ancient diseases like anthrax could reemerge, having been trapped in the frozen ground for decades.
• 🧪 Scientists are racing to understand the effects of thawing permafrost and predict that by 2100, up to 70% of the Earth's permafrost could thaw.
• 🔄 Drastic action now could reduce the potential thawing from 70% to 30%, significantly lessening the catastrophic effects on climate and ecosystems.

Q & A

What is the significance of permafrost in the northern regions of Canada?

Permafrost serves as the glue or cement that holds the northern landscape together. It provides a solid foundation for infrastructure, and its thawing poses a significant threat to the environment, infrastructure, and the atmosphere due to the release of trapped greenhouse gases.

What alarming changes are happening in the Beaufort Sea coastline near Tuktoyaktuk?

The Beaufort Sea coastline is experiencing rapid erosion due to the thawing permafrost. Large cliffs made of permafrost are collapsing and breaking off into the ocean, with parts of the coast eroding by up to 45 to 50 meters a year, one of the highest erosion rates in the world.

How does thawing permafrost contribute to the release of greenhouse gases?

Thawing permafrost releases trapped organic material, which begins to decompose and emit carbon dioxide and methane, both potent greenhouse gases. This process accelerates global warming and leads to a vicious cycle of more permafrost thawing and further greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the role of the active layer in permafrost, and how does it differ from the lower layers?

The active layer of permafrost is the top portion, about a meter deep, which freezes and thaws seasonally. The lower layers are permanently frozen and must remain so to maintain the stability of the environment. Thawing these deeper layers has severe environmental consequences.

What historical health threats could be reintroduced by thawing permafrost?

Thawing permafrost could potentially release ancient viruses, bacteria, and diseases that have been trapped in the frozen ground for centuries. For example, an anthrax outbreak in Siberia was linked to a reindeer carcass that thawed, releasing the deadly bacteria.

What potential global consequences could arise if the permafrost continues to thaw at its current rate?

If the permafrost continues to thaw, it could release massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to climate change. Scientists estimate that 10% of the trapped carbon, or 150 billion tons, could be released by 2100, which would lead to substantial global warming and environmental instability.

What are the visible effects of permafrost thawing on infrastructure in northern Canada?

In areas like Yellowknife and Inuvik, permafrost thawing causes the ground to subside and heave, damaging roads and buildings. Homes in Inuvik are built on stilts, and utility lines cannot be buried because of the shifting and unstable ground.

What are the main research concerns regarding permafrost thawing at the Woods Hole Research Center?

Researchers at Woods Hole are primarily concerned about the 1,500 billion tons of carbon locked in permafrost. Their studies focus on the potential release of this carbon as the permafrost thaws, which would have catastrophic consequences for the global climate.

How do communities like Tuktoyaktuk experience the direct impact of permafrost thawing?

Tuktoyaktuk is facing rapid coastal erosion, forcing homes and infrastructure to be relocated or destroyed as land collapses into the sea. The community has lost significant portions of land, and elders report that the permafrost is retreating deeper each year.

What steps can be taken to slow the thawing of permafrost and mitigate its effects?

Scientists suggest that drastic measures to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions could slow the thawing of permafrost. By taking action now, the projected 70% thaw could be reduced to 30% by 2100, which would help minimize the environmental and atmospheric damage.