Speleothems Reveal 500,000-Year History of Siberian Permafrost

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1228729
• Publication Date: 2013-02-22T05:05:15Z
• Authors: A. Vaks; O. S. Gutareva; S. F. M. Breitenbach; E. Avirmed; A. J. Mason; A. L. Thomas; A. V. Osinzev; A. M. Kononov; G. M. Henderson
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; 13. Climate action; /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1000; Climate systems and policy; 15. Life on land; General; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Permafrost Thaw Predictions

Permafrost contains twice as much carbon as the atmosphere which could have serious consequences if it were to be released by widespread thawing.

Vaks et al.

(p. 183 , published online 21 February) present a 450,000 year-long record of speleothem growth at selected locations in Siberia, which traces changes in the extent of permafrost over that time period. The authors conclude that conditions only slightly warmer than those of today would cause widespread thawing of continuous permafrost as far north as 60°N.