The Arctic tundra is now a net source of carbon dioxide

The Arctic tundra, which has been a carbon sink for millennia, has shifted to become a carbon source.

Comment from Gemini:

The related observations and articles paint a stark picture of the widespread impacts of permafrost thaw across the Arctic, providing crucial context for the observation that the Arctic tundra is now a net source of carbon dioxide. Several observations document the direct consequences of thawing permafrost on Alaskan communities: the relocation of entire villages like Newtok due to erosion and infrastructure failure (Newtok's end is imminent, Storm Submerges Kotzebue, Dunleavy declares emergency, Erosion continues along Noatak River, River erosion threatening community water supply), damage to homes and infrastructure in Nunapitchuk (As the permafrost melts, the houses in Nunapitchuk are breaking down), and threats to drinking water supplies in Noatak (Dunleavy declares emergency, River erosion threatening community water supply). These real-world examples underscore the urgency and severity of the permafrost thaw issue highlighted in the main observation.

Furthermore, the related articles detail the environmental consequences of thawing permafrost beyond carbon emissions. These include the release of mercury (New study warns), discoloration of rivers due to metal mobilization (Rivers in Alaska are turning orange, Metal mobilization from thawing permafrost), and changes in local ecosystems, such as the "microbial awakening" affecting the food web (Alaska's Arctic and boreal ecosystems see). The observation on the expansion of the Batagay crater (Climate change causing Siberia's Batagay crater) further illustrates the dramatic landscape changes occurring due to permafrost thaw. The observations about scientific efforts to monitor and understand these changes (German scientists get bird's-eye view, Permafrost thaw is an existential threat, Permafrost Pathways) highlight the ongoing research needed to address this complex issue. Even observations seemingly unrelated to permafrost, such as the NASA climate satellite launch (NASA climate satellite blasts off) and the petition to protect a rare flower (Conservationists ask feds), indirectly connect to the overall narrative of climate change impacts in the Arctic. The satellite will provide valuable data for monitoring these changes, while the flower's vulnerability highlights the broader ecological threats posed by a changing climate.

Finally, the articles related to the economic impact of thawing permafrost in Russia (Damage from permafrost melting) and changes in the water cycle (Arctic rivers face big changes) provide a broader geographical and systemic perspective to the issue, emphasizing that the Arctic tundra's shift to a carbon source is part of a larger, interconnected web of climate change consequences. The case of Conoco Phillips' Willow project (As Conoco's Willow project advances) also introduces the complex intersection of economic development and environmental concerns in the region. The release of methane from thawing permafrost is a significant concern, though not explicitly mentioned in many of these articles, because methane has about 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere. [Environmental Defense Fund, https://www.edf.org/climate/methane-crucial-opportunity-slow-global-warming] Methane emissions from permafrost thaw are now a major contributor to the global methane budget. [Canadell, J. G., et al. (2021). Global Carbon Budget 2021. Earth System Science Data, 13(4), 4623-4690. https://essd.copernicus.org/articles/13/4623/2021/]