Most of the world’s permafrost lies in Russia. Critical research looks at how melting permafrost contributes to global warming. But sanctions against Russia this year have disrupted field work and threatened collaborations among scientists.
As global temperatures increase, thawing permafrost starts to release large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, which, in turn, raises global temperatures. This feedback loop could have dire consequences — and new research suggests we are getting close to making this loop irreversible.
Climate change is hitting the Arctic harder than anywhere else. And when it takes over leadership of the eight-nation Arctic Council later this month, the US will shift the organization’s priority from economic development to fighting — and adapting to — climate change.