Rivers and streams in Alaska are turning rusty orange due to thawing permafrost, as revealed by a new study. As the Arctic warms, minerals previously trapped in the soil are seeping into waterways.
“It’s an unforeseen impact of climate change on some of the most pristine rivers in our country,” said Brett Poulin, the study’s author and assistant professor at UC Davis.
Thawing permafrost exposes minerals to oxygen, increasing water acidity and dissolving metals. This gives rivers a rusty color and poses risks to drinking water and fisheries in the Arctic.
First observed in 2018 in northern Alaska’s Brooks Range, the rusting led to the loss of two fish species in a tributary of the Akillik River within a year. The rusting occurs seasonally in summer, typically during July and August, when the soil thaws the deepest.
Researchers are studying the long-term effects for regions with continuous permafrost, including parts of Alaska, Canada, Russia, and Scandinavia.
The research team is working with tribal liaisons in Alaska to keep local communities informed about this developing issue.
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