UTA scientist’s research shows how global warming is slowing formation of new permafrost.
UTA scientist’s research shows how global warming is slowing formation of new permafrost.
A new study out of The University of Texas at Arlington shows that frozen land in Alaska is eroding faster than it can be replaced due to climate change.
"In the Northern Hemisphere, much of the ground is permafrost, meaning it is frozen year-round. Permafrost is a delicate natural resource. If it is lost faster than it is regenerated, we endanger infrastructure and release carbon, which can warm the atmosphere,” said Nathan D. Brown, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at UT Arlington. “Under a warming climate, a major question is whether arctic rivers will erode permafrost in thawing riverbanks faster than permafrost can regenerate.”
It happens slowly, but all rivers naturally change their paths over time. Floods, earthquakes, vegetation growth, and wildlife are constantly at work shifting rivers, charting new paths for water, and depositing sediment where water once flowed.
Read more at University of Texas at Arlington
Image: Nathan D. Brown, assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences at UT Arlington (Credit: Photo courtesy UT Arlington)
