2023-10-19 10:34:21
Three Belgian researchers are currently in Alaska to study permafrost. This layer, normally permanently frozen, is becoming less and less so.
The geologist, Sophie Opfergelt, professor at the faculty of bioengineering at UCLouvain, is coordinating this expedition.
She first recalls what this permafrost or permafrost is in French: “It is a collection of minerals, clay, organic matter (roots and leaves) and ice. The whole forms a block that is permanently frozen for at least two years or more“.
What has been observed for several years is that the thawing of permafrost is intensifying. And this, in two stages: “Summers are getting longer and hotter, causing permafrost to thaw more deeply.“, explains Sophie Opfergelt who adds that at the same time, “the air temperature in winter is not low enough“.
So, temperature rise four times faster in the Arctic than globally.
Result ? “The part that thawed too much in summer does not refreeze in winter“, replies the researcher.
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