Topic(s): Climate Feedbacks, Carbon Cycle, Cyclical and Natural Changes, Anthropogenic Changes, Measurements and Observations, Melting Ice and Permafrost
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), High School (9-12), College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16), Informal Education
The video provides a comprehensive overview of what permafrost is and why it matters in the context of climate change. The video includes: The definition of permafrost, the geographic extent, defines the problem of warming and melting permafrost, compares the amount of permafrost carbon content to all the world's forests, describes how carbon dioxide and methane are released when permafrost melts, includes visuals showing feedback loop, shows field work being done in Alaska and subsequent lab analysis of permafrost cores, and shows time release images of ground collapse on a slope due to permafrost melting.