Arctic Ocean Faces Carbon Release Threat

According to a recent NASA study, thawing permafrost and carbon-rich runoff from Canada’s Mackenzie River are causing a section of the Arctic Ocean to emit more carbon dioxide (CO2) than it takes in.

Key Points

• The study focused on coastal waters, constituting half of the Arctic Ocean, where land meets sea in a complex embrace.
• The research, conducted with advanced computer modelling, examined rivers like the Mackenzie, which flow into the Beaufort Sea.
• Warmer temperatures in recent years have led to increased melting and thawing of waterways and landscapes in the Mackenzie River and its delta.
• The model simulated freshwater discharge and the ....