Study Links Thawing Permafrost to Metal Spikes in Alaska Rivers
EARTHUnverifiedUpdated:
An unverified report describes acidification and rising metal concentrations in Alaska rivers. The study links them to thawing permafrost and reports concentrations up to seventy times normal in the Salmon River.
Water sampling across six watersheds from 2022 to 2024
Researchers sampled six watersheds across Alaska's Brooks Range from 2022 to 2024 after orange plumes were observed in waterways. The report says thaw-related water moving through previously frozen soils can oxidize minerals and carry metals into rivers.
Orange plumes had been noticed in Brooks Range waterways since 2018, but early sampling provided only snapshots rather than tracking river chemistry over time.
The study attributes the rusty water to thawing permafrost exposing mineral-bearing ground. In the Salmon River, one seepage was associated with metal concentrations up to 70 times usual levels, still measured 60 miles downstream.
The reported measurements connect conspicuous orange waterways with changes in acidity and metal concentrations. The report also notes that effects on Brooks Range communities and waterways remain to be seen, despite observations of acid rock drainage elsewhere in the permafrost zone.
Sources
- ScienceAlertAs Permafrost Melts, Toxic Metals Are Poisoning Rivers With Levels 70 Times Higher Than NormalRead source →