Some of Alaska’s icy blue rivers and streams have turned orange. Those orange streams can be problematic both in terms of being toxic but might also prevent migration of fish to spawning areas.
- A study from the University of California, Davis says the change in colour has been caused by toxic metals released from thawing permafrost.
- As the atmosphere heats up, the metals are released from melting frozen ground. The researchers say this is due to climate change.
- Researchers have been conducting tests since they noticed the colour of the rivers begin to change in 2018. The team tested over 70 areas where they observed the water change colour.
- According to researchers, as the earth warms up, long-frozen ground called permafrost is melting. This has led to waterways like Alaska’s rivers being exposed to minerals that have been locked underground for thousands of years.
- The minerals include iron, zinc, copper, nickel and lead, some of which are toxic to the waterways.
