Kenneth Hill

May 19, 2024 | nature.com | Jonathan A. O’Donnell |Michael Carey |Joshua Koch |Kenneth Hill |Patrick Sullivan |Roman Dial

AbstractClimate change in the Arctic is altering watershed hydrologic processes and biogeochemistry. Here, we present an emergent threat to Arctic watersheds based on observations from 75 streams in Alaska’s Brooks Range that recently turned orange, reflecting increased loading of iron and toxic metals. Using remote sensing, we constrain the timing of stream discoloration to the last 10 years, a period of rapid warming and snowfall, suggesting impairment is likely due to permafrost thaw.