I thought that Alaska would be covered by snow in the area north of Fairbanks. These pictures seem to indicate otherwise. Are the brown patches where there is still permafrost and the green where it is melted?

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Sat, 08/25/2018 - 19:34

Kim Young

The changes in color - which represent changes in vegetation because of moisture (and other changes) - are caused by permafrost thaw!

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Wed, 08/29/2018 - 09:57

LISA DALPORTO

I'm guessing that's not a good thing?

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Wed, 08/29/2018 - 21:13

Kim Young

There are some very immediate reasons why it is problematic (as permafrost thaws things flood, road collapse, houses sink) but there are
also long term changes to ecosystems (new vegetation leads to new animal
patterns, etc.) but one of the most problematic reasons permafrost thaw
is troubling is the impacts we don't see - the gases that are released
into the atmosphere - more on that in future journals!

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