Waterways Transforming to Orange Hue: Devastating Consequences Ensue
The Arctic watershed is undergoing a transformation, with numerous rivers turning orange, and a study by a research team from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) has shed light on the cause and consequences of this phenomenon.
The orange coloration is not a result of direct human activity, but is linked to anthropogenic climate change. The melting of permafrost, which underlies upwards of 85 percent of Alaska's landmass, allows water and oxygen to interact with sulfide-rich rocks like pyrite, producing an abundance of sulfuric acid. This interaction leeches naturally occurring metals such as iron, cadmium, and aluminum into the river.
The concentrations of these metals in the Salmon River, as studied by the University of California, Riverside, exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's toxicity levels for aquatic life. This contaminated water is not just affecting fish in the river, but is having a ripple effect on the entire food chain.
The orange coloration of the river also lowers insect larvae numbers, putting food stress on organisms higher up the food chain. Toxic fish pose a threat to bears and birds that rely on them as a food source. The orange hue in the river also obstructs light from reaching the river bed, impacting salmon spawning areas.
The research team, primarily composed of members from UCR, is studying the behavior of the Salmon River in the Brooks Range, Alaska, as it changes due to permafrost thaw. Tim Lyons, senior author of the study, stated that the current situation is similar to acid mine drainage, but in this case, it's the thawing permafrost changing the landscape's chemistry.
Lyons further stated that once the melting of the permafrost starts, it's irreversible and another irreversible shift driven by a warming planet. The authors of the study note that unlike a mining disaster, which can be addressed at the source by installing containment systems, the source of this pollution is coming from the ground itself, making the only real solution to stop the permafrost from melting.
The study was published in the journal PNAS, and its findings serve as a stark reminder that no place is spared from the effects of climate change. The fingerprint of global warming is unmistakable, even in remote areas far from cities and highways.
Darren Orf, the writer, lives in Portland and writes/edits about sci-fi and how our world works. His previous work can be found at Gizmodo and Paste.
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