Coastal erosion reveals the extent of ice-rich permafrost underlying active layer on the Arctic Coastal Plain in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area of the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska

Warming permafrost puts key Arctic pipelines, roads at “high risk,” study says (Washington Post)

Jan. 11, 2022

In coming decades, the shifting terrain that accompanies the warming of the permafrost caused by climate change will put most human-made structures in the Arctic at risk. Nearly 70 percent of the infrastructure in the Northern Hemisphere's permafrost regions—including at least 120,000 buildings and nearly 25,000 miles of roads—are located in areas with high potential for thaw of near-surface permafrost by 2050, according to new research. Quotes Merritt Turetsky: "I am writing a eulogy for the ecosystem that I love. The permafrost has been there for thousands of years in some places, and it will never come back."

Thawing permafrost on various peatlands in Alaska

The great Siberian thaw (The New Yorker)

Jan. 10, 2022

Permafrost contains microbes, mammoths, and twice as much carbon as the atmosphere. What happens when it starts to thaw? Merritt Turetsky weighs in.

Closeup of a fire

Climate scientists grapple with wildfire disaster in their backyard (Axios)

Jan. 3, 2022

The wind-whipped firestorm that tore through parts of Boulder County, Colorado, on Thursday struck at the heart of one of America's top climate science and meteorology research hubs. Merritt Turetsky is among those interviewed.

Dry grass

How climate change primed Colorado for a rare December wildfire (NBC News)

Jan. 2, 2022

The ground, typically moist from snow this time of year, was dry and flammable as a result of unusually warm temperatures and a lack of precipitation in recent months, said experts including INSTAAR snow hydrologist Keith Musselman.

a common redpoll on a tree branch in winter, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

Why redpolls look different, despite being the same species (earth.com)

Dec. 9, 2021

Redpolls, an Arctic-dwelling finch that flies south only sporadically, all share a characteristic red marking on their heads. But some redpolls are white with small bills, while others are larger and have whiter bills. Due to these differences, scientists initially thought that there were three different species of redpoll. However, new genetic research led by CU Boulder and including INSTAAR Scott Taylor has found that these apparently different species are in fact the same, but have a “supergene” that controls differences in morphology and plumage color.

Redpoll Finch on a tree branch against a dark background

Common arctic finches are all the same species (Colorado Arts & Sciences Magazine)

Dec. 8, 2021

New research from CU Boulder confirms that there are not, in fact, multiple species of Redpoll Finches, as previously thought. Instead, the three recognized species are all just one with a “supergene” that controls differences in plumage color and morphology, making them look different.

Brightly colored topography model

CU Boulder team granted $2.56M to transform Earth surface science (CIRES)

Dec. 7, 2021

The National Science Foundation has awarded a highly competitive grant to a team of scientists building OpenEarthScape, a set of models and simulations to help anticipate changes in river flow, beach erosion, landslides and more. The $2.56M grant will support five years of work by earth surface scientists, including modelers, who are determined to better understand the forces that re-shape our landscapes over hours to epochs. Eric Hutton, Albert Kettner, Irina Overeem, Mark Piper are co-PIs on the grant.

Aerial view of SEEC and East Campus, with mountains in background

2022 Research & Innovation Office Faculty Fellows cohort unveiled (RIO)

Nov. 19, 2021

RIO Fellows include INSTAAR biogeochemist Julio Sepúlveda.

Abstract painting by Diane Burko, called "Unprecedented", with cloud like shapes, firey red areas, and discs of many sizes

Visualizing climate change through abstract painting (Hyperallergic)

Nov. 16, 2021

The art of INSTAAR Affiliate Diane Burko includes images of melting glaciers and dying coral reefs that are not just pictorially impressive; they have strong emotional impact.

CU Boulder campus in fall colors with flatirons behind

New class of CU Distinguished Professors: Leaders in research, education, service (CU Connections)

Nov. 11, 2021

University’s highest faculty honor awarded to 11 professors for 2021, including INSTAARs Diane McKnight and Giff Miller.

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