The Dangers of Permafrost Thaw

The Dangers Of Permafrost Thaw

Permafrost thaw is a growing danger

The Dangers of Permafrost Thaw

By Anne Rose Muiruri

What Is Permafrost?

Permafrost is any sort of frozen ground, ranging from soil to sediment to rock, that has remained frozen for at least two years and as long as hundreds of thousands of years. It can range in depth from a few feet to more than a mile beneath the earth’s surface, covering huge regions like the Arctic tundra or a single, isolated point like an alpine permafrost mountaintop.

Microbial Breakdown

Microbes that breakdown the carcasses of plants and animals release carbon dioxide, methane, and other global warming gases into the air. A deep freeze successfully halts that process, preserving organisms as well as the gases they would otherwise release underground in the permafrost. The microbial decomposition of those organic materials—and the emission of greenhouse gases—restarts when frozen soil thaws.

Continue reading

23 Safe Driving Tips For Fog and Rain

23 Safe Driving Tips For Fog And Rain

Winter driving brings hazards with rain and fog testing driver skills

23 Safe Driving Tips For Fog And Rain 

Great Tips to keep you safe while driving on wet, foggy, winter roads

By D. S. Mitchell

 

Rain And Fog

I live in the Pacific Northwest. Although we don’t see much snow, Mother Nature keeps us on our toes with lots of rain and fog. Of course, rain happens all the time, all over the world. Despite wet roads people need to get from place to place. But rainy weather can bring really slick roads, causing skids, hydroplaning, and collisions. A second weather hazard we see a lot of in my area is fog. Fog can make driving difficult; what I really mean is, when the two hazards come together the danger doubles. When things turn grey and wet remember there are some common sense driving tips to keep you safe.

Continue reading