Recent Dartmouth research underscores the significant influence of Arctic permafrost on the formation of northernmost rivers and highlights the risks of substantial carbon release due to climate change-induced thawing. By analyzing thousands of watersheds, the study reveals the unique characteristics of Arctic river valleys and stresses the importance of understanding these landscapes in the face of global warming. Credit: SciTechDaily.
Dartmouth researchers set out to understand why Arctic watersheds tend to have less river area than watersheds in warmer climates. First author Joanmarie Del Vecchio conceived of the study while conducting fieldwork in Alaska after she hiked uphill from her riverside worksite and beheld a vista of sheer mountain slopes unbroken by rivers or streams. Credit: Mulu Fratkin
“Any way we sliced it, regions with larger, more plentiful river channels are warmer with a higher average temperature and less permafrost,” Del Vecchio said. “You need a lot more water to carve valleys in areas with permafrost.” Palucis recalled a research trip to the Arctic when she saw a chunk of bedrock the size of a small building break off from a cliff. The culprit of the cleaving was a small stream of water that had seeped into the rock and weakened it.