What is thermokarst? Analyse its growing relevance in the context of Arctic permafrost thawing and global climate change.

Thermokarst are surface cavities in earth caused by melting permafrost in North Arctic and polar regions.

Features:

1. Located in regions where permafrost has melted

2. Circular surface depressions and sinkholes due to soil subsidence

3. Are sometimes filled with ice meltwater

Growing relevance of Thermokarst:

This has caused thermokarsts and has depleted carbon sinks by of happened organic matter

It also degrades landside Siberian badlands ave an example

Permafrost thawing leads to disease outbreaks near pthermokarsts [Siberian anthrax outbreak, 2016]

Primary driver of permafrost thawing and thermokarst occurrence is global warming

Result in thawing permafrost and 'greening of ice-line'

Reduces earth's ability to radiate heat → intensifying temp rise

Thermokarsts serve as an urgent climate correction to tackle global warming.

Arctic region is heating 2m that of global average → resulting in thawing of permafrost

This has caused thermokarsts and has depleted carbon sinks by of happened organic matter

It also degrades landside Siberian badlands ave an example

Permafrost thawing leads to disease outbreaks near pthermokarsts [Siberian anthrax outbreak, 2016]

Climate change:

Primary driver of permafrost thawing and thermokarst occurrence is global warming

Result in thawing permafrost and 'greening of ice-line'

Reduces earth's ability to radiate heat → intensifying temp rise.

Thermokarsts serve as a sitting by urgent climate correction to tackle global warming.

— Varun Tokas · AIR 117