The excrement delivers nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, kick-starting islands of vegetation at the edge of the cryosphere.
Cryosphere
Microplastics’ Hidden Contribution to Snow Melting
Microplastic particles, present everywhere on the planet, may complicate assessments of black carbon’s role in the melting of snow and of its contributions to Earth’s radiative balance.
Experiments Reveal How Permafrost Carbon Becomes Carbon Dioxide
Field samples from Alaska show how sunlight and iron convert permafrost carbon to carbon dioxide. Climate models ignore this process.
How Nitrogen Contributes to Permafrost Carbon Dynamics
Nitrogen released into the soil from thawing permafrost in the Arctic could accelerate soil carbon decomposition and alter carbon dynamics, with global implications.
Airborne Surveys Examine Water Levels of Lakes Perched on Permafrost
Do water levels in high-latitude Canadian lakes fluctuate as one body or as separate entities? The answer could reveal clues to how melting permafrost influences the environment.
New Insights from 60 Years of Crevasse Research
Deep cracks in the ice may provide insight into glacier decay and help predict sea level rise.
