search
Tundr
Trends
- 1Arctic thaw is turning Alaska's rivers orange, study finds●As the Arctic warms and tundra thaws, minerals long trapped in frozen soil are leaching into rivers, turning them orange
Scientists in northern Alaska report that thawing permafrost is releasing minerals once locked in frozen soil into rivers, turning the water orange and acidic. The study found these 'rusting' waters are more metallic and more acidic than drainage from metal mines, raising concerns about impacts on aquatic ecosystems as the Arctic continues to warm.