Arctic Wildfires Are Melting Frozen Ground That Stores Carbon

Wildfires in the Arctic are causing serious problems for permanently frozen ground called permafrost. This frozen soil covers about 15 to 24 percent of Earth's land and stores huge amounts of carbon. Scientists are worried because fires are becoming more common in these cold northern areas. When the fires burn, they heat up the ground so much that the permafrost starts to melt.

The fires create what scientists call a 'cascade of problems' in the frozen zones. When permafrost melts, it can release carbon that has been trapped for thousands of years. This carbon goes into the air as greenhouse gases, which makes global warming worse. The fires also change how water moves through the ground and affects the tiny living things in the soil.

Scientists have created a new way to think about these frozen areas called the 'Permafrost Critical Zone.' This zone includes everything from the air above the ground to the frozen soil below. All these parts work together like a system. When fires damage one part, it affects everything else too.

The fires are getting worse each year in northern places like Alaska, Canada, and Russia. Since 2003, extreme fires in northern forests have more than doubled. The fires burn hotter and last longer than they used to. Climate change is making the weather warmer and drier, which helps fires spread more easily.