Another human pollution-caused global warming “Oh no!” As arctic warms four times faster than elsewhere, thawing permafrost releases toxic metals, rusting over 75 rivers and streams in Alaska’s Brooks Range, turning them orange (like acid mine leakage), deadly to fish and other life.

Alaska’s Rusting Rivers: The Alarming Impact of Permafrost Thaw on Arctic Rivers by UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, May 20, 2024

In this video, researchers from University of California Davis, National Park Service, and USGS, reveal the startling discovery of over 75 streams and rivers in Alaska’s Brooks Range turning orange due to metals released in permafrost thaw. We delve into the consequences of this phenomenon, its impact on aquatic ecosystems and local communities, and the ongoing research efforts to understand and mitigate these changes.