AAAS: “Thawing permafrost is turning Arctic rivers orange—spelling trouble for fish.” In 1977 author John McPhee wrote that the Salmon River, in remote northwestern Alaska, had “the clearest, purest water I have ever seen.” But in 2019, ‘the river turned orange and yellow, reminiscent of acidic runoff from mining waste.’ Times change: “the river and many of its tributaries are now laced with toxic metals, leached from thawing permafrost, at levels that can harm aquatic life, scientists
Permafrost & Salmon
AAAS: “Thawing permafrost is turning Arctic rivers orange—spelling trouble for fish.” In 1977 author John McPhee wrote that the Salmon River, in remote northwestern Alaska, had “the clearest, purest water I have ever seen.” But in 2019, ‘the river turned orange and yellow, reminiscent of acidic runoff from mining waste.’ Times change: “the river and many of its tributaries are now laced with toxic metals, leached from thawing permafrost, at levels that can harm aquatic life, scientists