What Journalists Should Know About Permafrost
Permafrost encompasses a range of ground types—soil, sediment, and rock—that have remained frozen for extended periods, typically at least two years, and in some instances, for millennia. Spanning extensive areas like the Arctic tundra and appearing in solitary locales such as high-altitude mountain peaks, permafrost can penetrate deep beneath the earth's surface, reaching depths ranging from a few feet to over a mile.
But with global temperatures on the rise due to climate change, the stability of this historically permanent frozen ground is progressively more compromised. As temperatures increase, permafrost is thawing at an accelerating rate. This thawing process is not merely transforming frozen landscapes into soggy terrain; it is also unleashing far-reaching consequences across various dimensions of our environment.
Where Is Permafrost Found and Why is it Melting?
Permafrost, found primarily in cold regions of the northern hemisphere like Siberia, Tibet, Greenland, and Alaska, covers about 23 million square kilometers, roughly 25% of the northern hemisphere's land surface. It also exists in southern hemisphere mountainous areas such as the Andes, Southern Alps, and South Georgia. Submarine permafrost beneath the Arctic Ocean formed over 11,000 years ago during the Ice Age.
Global warming is accelerating the thawing of permafrost worldwide. Studies suggest a 1°C temperature increase could lead to the loss of nearly four million square kilometers of permafrost, while a 2°C increase could result in the loss of 40% globally. Adhering to the Paris Agreement's targets, aiming to keep global warming well below 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C, offers hope for mitigating permafrost loss and its environmental, ecological, and socio-economic impacts.
Melting Permafrost’s Impact on the Environment
The thawing of permafrost introduces extensive challenges for our planet across multiple fronts. Firstly, as permafrost melts, it releases vast stores of methane and carbon dioxide that have been locked underground for millennia. These greenhouse gasses seriously contribute to global warming and create a feedback loop where higher temperatures cause more permafrost thawing, releasing even more gasses into the atmosphere. Secondly, warming also brings risks of releasing ancient viruses and bacteria that have lain dormant in the permafrost. Recent incidents like anthrax outbreaks in Siberia illustrate the potential for disease emergence as temperatures rise.
Melting permafrost could also transform stable tundra landscapes into muddy terrain, disrupting local flora and depriving wildlife of the most necessary habitat and food sources. Underwater permafrost thawing can exacerbate these effects by causing water loss from lakes and rivers, leading to droughts and further ecological stress. Lastly, the thawing undermines ground stability and escalates the occurrences of landslides and other geological hazards. Cities built on permafrost, such as Yakutsk, are extra vulnerable to sinking and structural damage, exemplified by the dramatic formation of the Batagaika crater, a result of both thawing permafrost and deforestation.
Permafrost’s Impact on Climate Costs
If global temperatures rise by at least 3°C by the end of the century, melting permafrost is projected to release up to 280 gigatons of carbon dioxide and 3 gigatons of methane. Methane, being 10 to 20 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas, would majorly amplify climate impacts. This scenario could increase climate-related costs by $70 trillion through 2300, dwarfing projected benefits such as improved Arctic navigation and mineral access. The economic burden would disproportionately affect warmer, poorer regions like India and Africa, potentially exceeding their entire current annual GDP and exacerbating global inequality.
Reporting on Permafrost
Journalists play an important role in educating the public about the implications of permafrost thawing driven by climate change. For effective reporting, journalists should also be knowledgeable of the geographical distribution of permafrost. Enlisting the help of climate experts is recommended to give added clarity, helping them to effectively lay out the interconnected environmental, health, and economic risks of melting permafrost. Journalists have the power to use these tools to empower communities and policymakers to take true decisive action in preserving permafrost and possibly diminish its profound consequences on global climate stability.
