What we are learning about thermokarsts

Tremendous stores of organic carbon have been frozen in permafrost soils for thousands of years. A thermokarst failure is generated when these ice-rich, permanently-frozen soils are warmed and thawed, the ice melts, and the soil collapses and either creates an erosional hole in the tundra or a landslide if the slope is sufficient. An environmental chemist at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Rose Cory, is studying thermokarsts in the Alaskan Arctic. Specifically, she is investigating the role of sunlight in stimulating carbon dioxide release from permafrost soil carbon. Dr. Cory's findings have revealed that thermokarsts produce significant amounts of carbon dioxide and represent a previously unrecognized store of carbon that is currently not included in future climate predictions.

Rose Cory, Ph.D. standing at a gully erosion thermokarst (hand on soil ice and thermokarst water sampled at bottom of picture).

Dr. Cory's research provides the first evidence that the respiration of previously frozen soil carbon will be amplified by reactions with sunlight (photochemical processes) and their effects on bacteria.  

To learn more about her latest research findings visit:

Slumping Arctic Soils Produce Significant Amounts of CO2.
Science NOW. Feb 11, 2013.

Surface exposure to sunlight stimulates CO2 release from permafrost soil carbon in the Arctic. Proceedings of the National Academies of Science. Feb 11, 2013.

Also available is a 5 minute video describing Dr. Cory's research and showing life in the field in the Alaskan Arctic  – this video features graduate students conducting research as well.

Trouble in the Tundra (article about Thermokarsts)
Video showing a Thermokarst (35 second video)

Walking in a thermokarst (29 second video)

NASA's Global Ice Viewer

NASA's Global Ice Viewer enables viewers to see how climate change has affected glaciers, sea ice, and continental ice sheets by focusing on Greenland, the Arctic and Antarctica.

Visit Antarctica to learn about the continent's major ice shelves, ice flow and extent of sea ice which is actually increasing!

This is a good time to remind you that you will want to be sure to distinguish between the Antarctic Ice Sheet - glacial ice - which is losing volume and Antarctic sea ice - frozen seawater - which is expanding. Two recent NASA articles may be of interest:

NASA study examines Antarctic sea ice increases

Ice sheet loss at both poles increasing, study finds

NEW World Bank Report: Turn Down the Heat

The World Bank recently released a report, Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided.  This report, "synthesizing the latest scientific knowledge on global warming warns we’re on a path to a 4 degree warmer world by the end of the century—with huge implications for humanity." An executive summary is available and more information and related content can be found by clicking here.

Related News Articles:
Press Release from The World Bank, November 18, 2012.

World Bank (Again) Warns of Developmental Setbacks From Climate Change. ScienceInsider, November 19, 2012.

We’re on pace for 4°C of global warming. Here’s why that terrifies the World Bank.  The Washington Post, November 19, 2012.