Permafrost slides in Canada's far north move 30 million cubic yards
Scientists report that two permafrost detachment slides in Canada's Northwest Territories moved a combined 30 million cubic yards of earth. One slide stretched about three-quarters of a mile and the other 2 miles. The slides occurred along the Johnson River in 2017 and the Redstone River in 2018, and began during a wildfire three decades before they collapsed. Researchers found frozen material up to 650 feet long embedded in the debris. Geoscientist Joseph Young, lead author of the paper and formerly of the University of Alberta, described the slides as a dramatic manifestation of the changing climate.
Key facts
- The findings are reported in a recent paper by scientists, with Joseph Young as lead author.
- Young was formerly affiliated with the University of Alberta at the time of the paper.
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Why it matters
Permafrost collapses show how warming ground in northern regions can reshape landscapes.
What changed
First published from Grist