Many natural bodies of water in Alaska have turned an odd orange color, leaving many confused at the sight. Experts have been analyzing the trend to see what is going on and the scientific explanation according to their studies points to climate change related issues. It appears that the melting and thawing permafrost is creating a chemical change to alter the color of rivers and streams in the state.
According to scientists, with climate change, the Arctic is the fastest warming region. The ground that is historically frozen is warming and melting. This is releasing minerals and more that have been previously locked in the frozen ground. These minerals that are being released into the world for the first time in decades are having major effects on things.
The minerals meeting oxygen for the first time is increasing the acidity of the water.
At the same time as the acidity increases, more metals are being dissolved into the water. Metals such as zinc, copper, cadmium, and iron. Iron is a metal that commonly causes color changes due to rusting, which is why the water is now appearing to have a rusty color. The color change is so prominent that it is even being picked up on satellite images.
Many now express their concerns regarding the condition of the water and the risks it may pose to people in how it affects drinking water and fisheries. Brett Poulin, a professor of environmental toxicology at University of California Davis, has said that if the water from one river or stream mixes with another river or stream, the metals could be so potent in the water that it does have a significant impact on local aquatic ecosystems.
This actually has happened before, back in 2018.
In 2018, the orange rivers were primarily in the northern side of Alaska, up in Brooks Range. The waters there were especially known for being crystal clear, until climate change affected them. In one year of the water contamination in these rivers, two fish species were completely killed off. They saw many other negative affects to the ecosystems that have continued on, showing some of the effects are permanent.
