Scientists Go to Extremes to Monitor Arctic Permafrost Loss

Alexandria, Va. — Join EARTH Magazine and guest writer Irina Overeem on an expedition that pitted a team of scientists against rapid erosion in the Arctic. Overeem transports readers to the edge of the North Slope of Alaska where her team explored the effects of rapidly thawing permafrost on cliff erosion — a process that’s resulted in an annual average of 15 meters of shoreline recession in recent years. The researchers expect that, with continued warming, the processes responsible for erosion will only accelerate.

It is important to document and understand Arctic coastal erosion processes because they have immediate impacts on local infrastructure. Time-lapse photography and detailed analysis helped the team identify what triggers massive blocks of the coast to fall into the Beaufort Sea. Discover the causes and potential impacts in the April Issue of EARTH Magazine at: http://bit.ly/1gYvGus.

Subscribe or download the complete April issue of EARTH Magazine for all the amazing images from Overeem’s expedition. Other stories include news about the oldest microbially induced sedimentary structures yet discovered, an interview with the Secretary of the Department of the Interior Sally Jewell, and much more at: www.earthmagazine.org.

Keep up to date with the latest happenings in Earth, energy and environment news with EARTH magazine online at: http://www.earthmagazine.org/. Published by the American Geosciences Institute, EARTH is your source for the science behind the headlines.