Why is a river in a remote part of Alaska turning orange? 🤔
Thawing permafrost appears to be the culprit, and scientists are working to pinpoint the exact causes.
Thawing permafrost may be exposing sulfide-rich minerals, which can release sulfuric acid into the water. Another factor may be iron released by bacteria that are digesting plant and animal matter in thawing permafrost soils. As that iron reaches flowing streams, it can become oxygenated, or “rust,” and turn the water orange.
As permafrost—the year-round frozen ground prevalent across the Arctic—thaws, it releases the potent greenhouse gas methane, thereby feeding more warming and thawing, while also destabilizing the ground and potentially letting loose dormant pathogens.
#Alaska #Permafrost #EarthFromSpace #NASA
Image Description:
1: A satellite image showing green mountains and tan valleys, with no visible human presence: no roads, no settlements. A small river near the center of the image is a bright orange color
2: Image of the same area as the first image. The area is labeled Kobuk Valley National Park. A small river near the center of the image is a bright orange color. There is a white box around the river, and an enlarged view of it at the lower right corner of the image. The orange river is labeled Tukpahlearik Creek, and in the enlarged view the creek is seen as several small channels, like a braided stream.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has launched a global consultation on sustainable construction standards to address inconsistent adoption of frameworks across markets. This move directly impacts how whole life carbon and embodied carbon in materials are measured and reported. Establishing a consistent whole life carbon assessment is crucial to driving environmental sustainability in construction and setting reliable benchmarks for low carbon building and infrastructure.
A companion RICS report highlights the growing role of digital technology in sustainable building design. Artificial intelligence is shown to improve material optimisation, cut embodied carbon in materials, and reduce the overall carbon footprint of construction. Despite the promise, firms face challenges in digital capability and integration. Improving skills in lifecycle assessment and life cycle thinking in construction will be vital for accurate building lifecycle performance and for delivering successful net zero whole life carbon strategies.
In North America, industry consolidation is signalling a strengthening of sustainable building practices. The acquisition of Gaskins + LeCraw by Pape-Dawson consolidates engineering, environmental surveying, and permitting expertise. This broader skillset supports the delivery of eco-design for buildings, sustainable urban development, and circular economy in construction models. The merger points to stronger capacity to specify low embodied carbon materials and align projects with BREEAM and other sustainable design standards.
Investment in renewable energy directly tied to construction is also expanding. TDK Ventures is backing geothermal innovator Rodatherm, which targets lower carbon footprints in heat supply for energy-efficient buildings. The development of new renewable building materials together with such low carbon construction technologies is key to sustainable building practices. This also ties into wider circular construction strategies and resource efficiency in construction efforts, both central to decarbonising the built environment.
A new agreement between the UK and US to accelerate nuclear power deployment influences long-term sustainable infrastructure planning. Nuclear’s role in the low carbon energy mix intersects with construction sustainability, as large-scale building projects must consider whole life carbon accounting, life cycle cost reporting, and net zero carbon targets. This development places pressure on contractors and designers to adopt green construction strategies and minimise the environmental impact of construction while meeting regulatory requirements.
Advances in ESG data and sustainability reporting tools are also reshaping construction finance. The partnership between Novata and S&P Global Sustainable1 focuses on greater transparency and accountability, reducing risks of greenwashing. Better data on environmental product declarations (EPDs), sustainable material specification, and building lifecycle performance will strengthen confidence in climate-aligned investment. Such precision drives progress towards circular economy goals and builds trust in carbon neutral construction.
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