Instructions: Answer the following

1. The Great Lakes in the upper midwestern US are believed to have been formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. Have you ever visited any of the Great Lakes (Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie, Ontario)? What were your thoughts? Where did you go? What did you do while there? Share your experience.
2. Please read the following article regarding permafrost thaw  (Links to an external site.) and reflect.
3. Have you ever seen a glacier in person? If so where did you see it? What were your impressions. If you haven't seen one do you want to? Where would you go to see one? Why?

 

The thawing of permafrost in the Artic seems alarming based on the article provided. Not only it has negative effects on the landscape itself, it also degrades our atmosphere. As permafrost melts, more microbes consume organic matter thereby releasing CO2 and methane in the atmosphere. Methane and CO2 are toxic gases which are byproducts of the said microbes. Releasing significant amounts of these gases will be risky because they are greenhouse gases. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases will increase global warming because it has been speculated that the emissions could be equivalent to an entire industrialized nation's greenhouse output. Although it will take decades for this event to occur, it needs to be addressed seriously because it greatly impacts the climate system.

In addition, abrupt melting of permafrost which causes gouging of landscapes will inhibit growth of new trees because they are flooded with melted water. It will result to growth of dominant mosses and grass-like edges which will contribute to formation of peaty material (highly organic matter). Such soils are problematic because of their high carbon content which contributes to greenhouse gases.

Therefore, it is very alarming and we need to take action in cutting these large emissions. If not, living things will suffer for both direct and indirect effects of permafrost thawing.

Step-by-step explanation

Number 1 and 3 should be based on your own answer because it is a personal question. For my answer in question 2, it is my own perspective and opinion regarding the given article to reflect. You may have your own premise or we may have similar insights. Hopefully, my answer would help in your own interpretation.