Thawing of World's Biggest Permafrost Crater Raises Alarms

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Context

The alarming situation of the Batagaika crater, which is the world's largest permafrost crater located in Russia's Far East.

Details

The Batagaika crater, located in Russia's Far East, is the world's largest permafrost crater.
Scientists are raising alarm as the "mega slump" caused by the thawing of the crater poses threats to cities and towns in northern and northeastern Russia.
The release of an "enormous quantity" of organic carbon from the thawing may further fuel global warming, impacting the planet.

Understanding Permafrost Craters

Permafrost is ground that remains completely frozen at zero degrees Celsius for at least two years straight.
Permafrost consists of a combination of soil, rocks, and sand held together by ice.
Permafrost is most common in regions near the North and South poles and covers a significant portion of the Earth's land area.

Formation and Environmental Factors

Permafrost formation is influenced by several environmental factors, including air temperature, snow cover, and ground insulation.
The presence of cold temperatures over an extended period prevents the ground from thawing during the warmer months, leading to permafrost formation.
The thickness of permafrost can vary from a few centimeters to several hundred meters.

Types of Permafrost

Continuous Permafrost: This type of permafrost covers large areas and remains frozen throughout the year.
Discontinuous Permafrost: Found in regions with milder climates, discontinuous permafrost includes patches of frozen ground interspersed with unfrozen areas.
Sporadic Permafrost: Sporadic permafrost occurs in regions where only isolated patches of frozen ground exist amid predominantly unfrozen ground.

Permafrost Craters - Causes and Formation

Permafrost craters are large depressions or sinkholes that form due to the thawing of permafrost.
They are typically the result of a process called "thermokarst," where the ground collapses as ice within the permafrost melts and causes the surface to sink.
Deforestation, changes in land use, and warming temperatures are some of the factors contributing to the formation of permafrost craters.

The "Gateway to the Underworld" - Batagaika Crater

The Batagaika crater is known as the "gateway to the underworld" by locals near Siberia.
It is a massive gash in the landscape, about one kilometer long, which first appeared in the 1960s.
Deforestation in the area caused the loss of ground ice, leading to erosion and land sinking, resulting in the crater's formation.

Rapid Growth and "Mega-Slump"

The locals have witnessed the rapid expansion of the crater over time.
Russian scientists call the expansion a "mega-slump," and it poses significant dangers.
The entire country is warming at least 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world, and this is causing the long-frozen tundra to melt.

Threats to Cities and Towns

The expanding crater poses threats to cities and towns across northern and northeastern Russia.
Buckling roadways, splitting houses, and disrupting pipelines are among the challenges caused by the slump's growth.

Implications for Climate Change

The thawing permafrost in the Batagaika crater contains an "enormous quantity" of organic carbon.
Greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere from the thawed soil, further contributing to global warming.
The increasing air temperature will likely lead to higher expansion rates of the crater, exacerbating climate warming.

Future Outlook

Scientists predict that with increasing temperatures and anthropogenic pressure, more "mega-slumps" like the Batagaika crater will form.
This indicates that permafrost across the region may eventually disappear.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Discuss the factors contributing to the formation and rapid expansion of permafrost craters. (150 words)

BATAGAIKA CRATER