From MIT Technology Review · · 3m
Arctic fires threaten frozen carbon stores
Wildfires in Alaska's permafrost regions release carbon, risking climate feedback loops.
In brief
Wildfires in Alaska's permafrost regions release carbon, risking climate feedback loops. Alaska's permafrost fires are accelerating carbon release, potentially turning boreal forests from carbon sinks to sources. Originally reported by MIT Technology Review.
Alaska wildfire in 2021
A wildfire ignited in a thick forest of black spruce and peeling paper birch trees on the northern campus of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in July 2021.
Fire spread and smoke
The blaze burned across dry feather mosses and lichen before climbing into tree crowns, reaching 12 feet in length and sending up a 500-foot smoke column.
Yankovich Road Fire
The fire occurred just days before the five-year anniversary of the Yankovich Road Fire, which burned in 2021.
Permafrost thawing
Hilary Shook used a thaw probe to detect permafrost, finding it had thawed significantly after the fire burned away insulating moss and organic topsoil.
Carbon release
Wildfires in Canada released more carbon than the nation’s combined fossil fuel emissions in 2023, accelerating permafrost thaw and carbon release.
Climate feedback loop
As climate change fuels more frequent and severe fires, they accelerate permafrost thaw, releasing greenhouse gases that worsen warming and fire cycles.
North Fire initiative
Woodwell Climate Research Center, University of Victoria’s Polis Institute, and Alaska Venture Fund launched North Fire to study fire interventions and raise awareness about carbon preservation.
Yedoma permafrost
Yedoma is a deep, ice-rich, carbon-dense permafrost that formed during the last ice age and stores significant carbon, with no rapid re-accumulation potential.
Yukon Flats pilot
In 2019, the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge burned 750,000 acres, prompting a pilot project to suppress fires threatening yedoma permafrost on 1.6 million acres.
Fire detection
FireSat satellite constellation will detect fires twice daily from space, providing updated images every 20 minutes once fully operational by the early 2030s.
Autonomous firefighting
Sikorsky and Rain Industries are testing autonomous helicopters equipped with thermal sensors and water tanks to suppress wildfires faster.
Carbon cost of suppression
Additional fire suppression efforts would cost about $12.63 per metric ton of prevented carbon dioxide emissions, totaling $7 billion this decade to maintain historical fire levels.
Permafrost carbon stores
The northern permafrost stores around 1.5 trillion tons of carbon, with 12% lost since 1850 due to warming, accelerating carbon release by 2021.
Fire suppression challenges
Alaska receives only 4% of federal firefighting funds despite producing half the nation’s wildfire emissions, highlighting resource allocation gaps.
Cultural burning
Indigenous tribes have used cultural burning for thousands of years to reduce fire risks, but it remains controversial due to potential for uncontrolled spread.
Climate tipping point
The yedoma permafrost and boreal forests face a climate tipping point, with current fire management policies prioritizing public safety over carbon preservation.
What matters most
Alaska's permafrost fires are accelerating carbon release, potentially turning boreal forests from carbon sinks to sources.
