Erosion along Alaska’s Arctic coast; collapsed permafrost.
In this photo you can see a collapsed block of ice-rich permafrost along Drew Point, Alaska. Coastal bluffs in this region can erode 20 meters/year (~65 feet). USGS scientists continually research the causes of major permafrost thaw and bluff retreat along the Arctic coast of Alaska. In addition, with the loss of sea ice to protect the beaches from ocean waves, salt water inundates the coastal habitats. Captions and Photo source: Benjamin Jones / USGS
Excerpts;
A new report just issued by NOAA says September’s Arctic sea ice coverage was about 25 percent less than it was between 1981 and 2010. As America’s only Arctic state, Alaska today faces unique challenges. One of those is the loss of permafrost, the frozen earth that serves as the foundation for huge portions of the state…
Read Full Article; CBS News (10-19-2017)
Climate impacts to Arctic coasts; USGS
USGS Projects Large Loss of Alaska Permafrost by 2100; USGS (12-02-2015)
Northern latitude tundra and boreal forests are experiencing an accelerated warming trend that is greater than in other parts of the world. This warming trend degrades permafrost, defined as ground that stays below freezing for at least two consecutive years…
Melting Permafrost to Cause Massive but Gradual Co2 Release; Guardian UK (04-09-2015)
