Ice and Fire

In the closing episode of the Permafrost Thaw season, we hear stories of landscape change that have long-sustained and been observed by Native people in Alaska's Kuskokwim River area. We hear their stories of adaptation, including managed retreat of buildings away from rapidly eroding riverbanks.

We are reminded of ways in which permafrost thaw relates to distant, global populations.

topics and purpose: changes to the land described by the Yup'ik people, and adaptation approaches in present times

terms defined: prevention, adaptation and managed retreat

notes: Connect with Rewiring America! This episode was funded, in part, by a grant from the Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources. Alaska Public Media and National Public Radio gave permission to use external audio clips.

In this episode, we learn the Yup'ik term for climate change-induced catastrophic land collapse, which occurs due to permafrost thaw, erosion, and flooding: Usteq.

We hear several definitions of the term, utilized by researchers and the government, and learn how these land changes are impacting communities in Western Alaska, in real-time.

topics and purpose: the long observed changes to the land described by the Yup'ik people, and related stress in present times

terms defined: usteq, land subsidence, divestment

notes: Learn more about climate friendly financial investments at ClimateSmart and get involved in the movement: Stop the Money Pipeline.  Here is a link to the Alaska State Hazard Mitigation Plan, and to Dr. Bronen's research about Usteq. This episode was funded, in part, by a grant from the Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources. 

In this episode, we breathe and feel our human connection to the short carbon cycle. Long-sequestered carbon stores from deep underground -- as oil reservoirs or within frozen permafrost -- are brought to the surface by human activity, and then converted into greenhouse gases. These gases, like CO2 and methane (CH4), float into Earth's atmosphere, circulate, and trap heat -- causing the planet to warm. We have thrown the carbon cycle out of balance.

topics and purpose: how humans participate with the carbon cycle, and how to enact systemic change for a climate-positive future

terms defined: short carbon cycle, long carbon cycle

notes: Join the climate movement and get involved with political mobilization by working or volunteering with organizations like 350.org and Protect Our Winters.

In episode four we learn about carbon stored within woolly mammoth bones and ancient plants, long held within the walls of the the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory's permafrost tunnel located near Fairbanks, Alaska. 

Forty thousand years ago permafrost trapped microbes, rock, and sediment when water froze around it all. The ground ice also captured ancient plants and mammal bones, making carbon stores visually apparent as permafrost oxidizes or thaws. These processes also have an odor.

topics and purpose: What all is in permafrost and emerges as it thaws?

terms defined: the Pleistocene Ice Age, organic matter

notes: Learn more about the Army Corps of Engineers' Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility in Fox, Alaska here. A previous version of this episode suggested that the tunnel was excavated to act as a protective underground enclave in the event of foreign occupation during the Cold War; this has been revised for accuracy. It was actually excavated in the 1960s as an experiment to test whether the tunnel could act as a bunker for military weapons systems.

In episode three of Ice and Fire, we hear about a microbial reawakening of microscopic life that was frozen into permafrost, often for thousands of years. These small life forms spring back when permafrost thaws. Though individually tiny, microbial communities -- composed of bacteria, fungi, and archaea -- have substantial impact to Earth, including the greenhouse gases they emit when they metabolize and perform cellular respiration.

topics and purpose: the significance of microbes to the atmosphere and global warming as permafrost thaws

terms defined: microbes and microbial communities

notes: Check out Dr. Romanowicz's website to read more about microbes and their significance to permafrost thaw. Learn more about the Permafrost Pathways Program, part of the Woodwell Climate Research Center, here.

In episode two we drill into the soil profile to learn about soil layers in northern landscapes. This shows us how deep permafrost is, and the impacts to people as the soil profile changes and permafrost thaws. 

topics and purpose: soil layers in northern regions are impacted by global warming; temperature records and increases, impacts of permafrost thaw on local and global levels

terms defined: soil core & soil profile; active layer, transition zone, permafrost layer

notes: Learn more about the Permafrost Pathways Program, part of the Woodwell Climate Research Center, here. Check out Dr. Romanowicz's website to read more about his research.

As global temperatures increase due to anthropogenic climate change, a myriad of impacts result for people and the planet. In this podcast, we share the ramifications of cryosphere change (melting/thawing water from solid ice) as the planet warms. 

In the first episode of season two, we introduce the topic of permafrost thaw, which will be explored throughout this season. In northern latitudes and at colder reaches of Earth, deep soil layers historically remained frozen year-round. Now warmer temperatures are causing this soil to thaw, and the repercussions are significant on local and global levels. 

Permafrost Pathways helps us dig into the topic and science of permafrost. Artist Nikki Lindt introduces us to her work which captures sounds of thawing. 

topics and purpose: an introduction to permafrost, which is actively thawing in northern latitudes – Nikki Lindt shares her related audio recordings and experiences; local and global impacts of permafrost thaw

terms defined: cryosphere, permafrost; continuous and discontinuous permafrost, thermokarst slump, positive feedback loop

notes: We recommend using over-the-ear headphones or speakers when listening to this episode due to some subtle, low frequency field audio shared. More of Nikki Lindt’s work with the Underground Sound Project can be found here. Learn more about the Permafrost Pathways Program, part of the Woodwell Climate Research Center, here.

In the last episode of the season, we dissect Robert Frost's 1920 poem, Fire and Ice, over a tent poetry session. This involves grappling with climate anxiety, and recognizing the role of personal behaviors in perpetuating the climate crisis.

Please fill out our survey to share your thoughts or ideas for next season.

In the last full episode of the season, we travel to the Greenland ice sheet and hear from a researcher who collects data at the face of tidewater glaciers, studying the turbulent zone where freshwater meets and mixes with seawater. This episode emphasizes the transition of solid ice into liquid freshwater, occurring globally, due to increasing temps, and shares why loss of the frozen reservoir matters.

topics and purpose: scene-setting in Greenland, transition and movement of water molecules globally as part of the interconnected hydrological cycle, increasing temperatures and glacier melt events due to anthropogenic climate change, research methods on ice and at the glacier-ocean interface, the global significance and utility of glaciers, balance, wrapping up the season

terms defined: freshwater reservoir, seismology, sonification, geophones, icequakes

notes: Learn more about the Glacioburst/sonification project by Mertl Research

In episode five we hear what makes tidewater glacier habitat an acoustic refuge, and why glaciers are important to other species in the ecosystem. We also discuss One Health connections, how Traditional Ecological Knowledge has allowed us to track the rate of melting tidewater glaciers, and close with the cascading ramifications of glacier habitat loss to living organisms.

topics and purpose: One Health connections, tidewater glacier habitat, acoustic refuge: marine mammals depend on the tidewater glacier ecosystem, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and habitat change/loss as the climate changes

terms defined: One Health, tidewater glacier, iceberg, calving event, harbor seal, site fidelity, acoustic refuge