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New research suggests slow but substantial greenhouse gas release from submarine permafrost
In the far north, the swelling Arctic Ocean inundated vast swaths of coastal tundra and steppe ecosystems. Though the ocean water was only a few degrees above freezing, it started to thaw the permafrost beneath it, exposing billions of tons of organic matter to microbial breakdown. The decomposing organic matter began producing CO2 and CH4, two of the most important greenhouse gases.
Though researchers have been studying degrading subsea permafrost for decades, difficulty collecting measurements and sharing data across international and disciplinary divides have prevented an overall estimate of the amount of carbon and the rate of release. A new study, led by Ph.D. candidate Sara Sayedi and senior researcher Dr. Ben Abbott at Brigham Young University (BYU) published in IOP Publishing journal
The latest environmental news from Alaskan beavers to electric cars
The latest environmental news from Alaskan beavers to electric cars
Beavers bite the tundra
Using detailed satellite data, researchers have tracked the activity of beavers in Alaska. What they have found is that in just a few years the beavers have expanded into regions where they have never been seen before. As they build new dams the beavers are creating new bodies of water. The reason the beavers can get into these regions is that warming due to climate change is causing shrubs to grow in areas where there was little vegetation before. For the beavers these shrubs are both food and building materials. Additionally, lakes that used to freeze no longer do, making them more beaver-friendly. Unfortunately, the beaver activity may cause the permafrost to thaw even more, and that will release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The beavers might be enjoying it, but it’s a vicious climate change circle.
Power, Water and Climate 07 January 2021
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As the planet continues to warm, the twin challenges of diminishing water supply and growing energy demand will intensify.
As the planet continues to warm, the twin challenges of diminishing water supply and growing energy demand will intensify. But water and energy are inextricably linked. For instance, nearly a fifth of California’s energy goes toward water-related activities, while more than a tenth of the state’s electricity comes from hydropower. As society tries to adapt to one challenge, it needs to ensure it doesn’t worsen the other.
To this end, researchers from UC Santa Barbara, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley have developed a framework to evaluate how different climate adaptations may impact this water-energy nexus. Their research appears in the open access journal Environmental Research Letters.