In the Arctic, climate shifts are rapidly changing ecosystems, resulting in large feedbacks between snow, vegetation, and permafrost. Thicker snow leads to warmer permafrost because a deeper snowpack will insulate the ground from the frigid Arctic winter. Because shrubs tend to capture and hold snow, researchers find the warmest temperatures beneath the shrubs, along with warming permafrost. In fact, underneath the shrubs and deep snow, windows—called taliks—into the permafrost will develop, allowing more water, energy, and nutrients to flow into the permafrost, speeding up the rate of warming and thawing.
'LA-UR-21-30501'
