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PHOTOS BY: WYLAND
A relatively new wrinkle in the climate change discussion is the prediction of thawing Arctic permafrost that could add to the already increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists estimate that this frozen ground contains about 1,700 gigatons of carbon in the form of frozen organic matter. As the permafrost thaws, it releases more carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. According to a research study from the University of Cambridge and the National Snow and Ice Data Center in the journal Nature Climate Change, these emissions could raise the anticipated economic impacts of climate change from $326 trillion to $369 trillion by the end of the twenty-second century.
With its stark, ethereal beauty, the Arctic seems an unlikely front line for the future of the planet. It is home to some of the most unique land- and sea-based animal species in the world. It is the hard-fought heritage of more than 40 ethnic and cultural groups. And it has maintained a delicate balance of existence with the supreme life-giving element in our solar system – the sun. Now, with the balance tipping, the scientists will continue to refine their climate models, fine tune their predictions, and zero in on future climate trends. But, for all intents and purposes, they’ve already made their case. What to do about it is up to us.
— Steve Creech