UNPACKING PERMAFROST, ONE DEGREE AT THE TIME
UNPACKING PERMAFROST, ONE DEGREE AT THE TIME
With the end of winter, the ground thaws and gets back into action, but usually only in temperate regions of the world. However, for several years in the Arctic, and in all tempered regions, the permafrost has been suffering from the effects of climate change and is starting to thaw as well. Permafrost is soil that is kept below zero for at least two years. It is found in the high latitudes and altitudes of territories where the winter is long, cold with a low snow cover, mainly in North America, Greenland and Siberia[1]. The problem is that its thawing uncovers billions of dead organisms trapped in the ground. They will then be decomposed by microorganisms that will release greenhouse gases (GHG) such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), respectively 80 and 280 times more damaging than carbon dioxide (CO2) for climate warming, on 20 years[2][3].
A loop on a gift is nice, but the positive feedback loop of thawing permafrost is much less so!
Indeed, this increase in GHGs in the atmosphere is actively participating in increasing the climate, and this is in addition to the GHGs from global anthropogenic activities. This amplification of global warming favors the thawing of permafrost, which increases greenhouse gases, which increases global temperature, etc… A positive feedback loop. On the other hand, on a more positive note, the increase in temperature will also allow for an increase in vegetation cover in the region. These new blooms will sequester carbon through photosynthesis and compensate a little for the release of GHG.
In short, something to think about when wrapping the next holiday gift!
To see the distribution of permafrost in Canada click here.
[1] L’encyclopédie CANADIENNE, 2015. Pergélisol. Accessed on March 10, 2023: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/fr/article/pergelisol
[2] ASSOCIATION CANADIENNE DU PERGÉLISOL, 2023. Pergélisol 101. Accessed on March 15, 2023: https://canadianpermafrostassociation.ca/[French]-What-is-permafrost.htm
[3] ONU info L’actualité mondiale Un regard humain, 2022. Cinq choses à savoir sur les gaz à effet de serre qui réchauffent la planète. Accessed on March 10, 2023 : https://news.un.org/fr/story/2022/01/1112132
