Observation: While driving down the Kobuk River, about 16 miles from Shungnak, we noticed significant erosion, with permafrost melt under the tundra. Large amounts of the riverbank are falling into the water, and when the initial land broke free, we noticed a huge wave down river.
Resource:
Center for Watershed Sciences (September, 2009) – Conceptual ecosystem model of sub-Arctic river response to climate change: Kobuk River, Alaska. Durand, J., et al. "The Kobuk River watershed is highly vulnerable to changes in climate due to its sub-Arctic location, unique geography, and discontinuous permafrost. Because of this and its pristine condition, it is an ideal system upon which to build a conceptual model for predicting the ecosystem effects of climate change." Source: John Muir Institute of the Environment, University of California, Davis
Alaska Public Lands Information Center – "Two short videos from the National Park Service, 'Pingos in Alaska's National Parks' and 'What are ice wedges and polygons?"
Weather Underground – "Permafrost is permanently frozen soil, and occurs mostly in high latitudes. Permafrost comprises 24% of the land in the Northern Hemisphere, and stores massive amounts of carbon. As a result of climate change, permafrost is at risk of melting, releasing the stored carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane, which are powerful heat-trapping gases. In addition, permafrost is structurally important, and its melting has been known to cause erosion, disappearance of lakes, landslides, and ground subsidence. It will also cause changes in plant species composition at high latitudes."
Encyclopaedia Britannica – "Permafrost is the result of present climate. Many temperature profiles show, however, that permafrost is not in equilibrium with present climate at the sites of measurement. Some areas show, for example, that climatic warming since the last third of the 19th century has caused a warming of the permafrost to a depth of more than 100 metres. In such areas much of the permafrost is a product of a colder, former climate."
Observations From Members