When Alaska's permafrost melts, hazardous metals are discharged into the rivers, turning them orange and acidic as vinegar. Observed from space, this pollution will probably worsen with time and present major environmental concerns.
Alarming Exposure of Toxic Rivers
A new study shows that dozens of Alaskan rivers have changed dramatically. They have turned bright orange because poisonous metals are released into the water from melting permafrost.
This scary change, seen from space, is not just a worry for the future but a current threat to the environment. The study, which was released on May 20 in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, found at least 75 orange rivers and streams in Alaska's Brooks Range.
Researchers initially noted the impact in 2018 when they observed milky orange rivers in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska, which differed considerably from the crystal-clear waters. Many of these contaminated streams were discovered initially via helicopter research. Chemical tests showed large amounts of zinc, nickel, copper, cadmium, and iron. The iron mainly caused the orange color.
The acidity of these waters is also an issue. The U.S. Geological Survey says some streams, like lemon juice or vinegar, have a pH as low as 2.3.
Not only do the environments look different, but they are also very dangerous for most aquatic life. Scientists are most worried about how it will affect spawning fish, which could significantly affect U.S. waters.
In just one year, the dolly varden and slimy sculpin fish types became extinct in a branch of the Akillik River in Kobuk Valley National Park. It is very important to move quickly to prevent this problem from worsening due to biodiversity loss. Melting permafrost, a layer of ice that stays frozen in the Arctic, is directly linked to its high metal content and acidity.
Long-Term Effects on the Environment
Because of climate change, permafrost is melting, exposing minerals trapped in it to rain. Metals seep into streams, which feed into bigger rivers.
This rusting usually happens when the ground is hot, like in July and August. Scientists from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, and the University of California, Davis, are trying to figure out what will happen in the long run when water chemistry changes in places with permanent permafrost.
In 2018, experts got the idea for the study when they saw a rust-colored river that had been very clear the previous year. After looking at pictures from space, we found orange rivers as far back as 2008. This year, the experts will do more tests to determine the size of the problem.
They are worried that record-breaking temperatures will have caused even more permafrost to melt, letting out even more metals. In the next few decades, temperatures are expected to keep rising, worsening metal pollution.
As the water becomes more acidic, it will be easier for more metals to dissolve from the newly thawed tundra. This will create a worrying "positive feedback loop" in which the problem worsens over time.
It is also believed that melting permafrost will create new rivers in places like Alaska and Siberia, making the problem even worse. The loss of permafrost has significant effects on the environment, such as releasing more greenhouse gases into the air. This could reveal toxic materials and wake up dormant viruses, which could lead to new pandemics.
There is no question that the world needs to do something about climate change right away to lessen its terrible effects, which will cause a lot of damage. We need to fix the things that cause climate change so that these important places don't get worse.
What happens when you don't do anything? It becomes more clear as the Earth warms up. Right away and always, fighting climate change is even more important now.
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