| Description: |
Tens of thousands Canadians have been forced to leave their homes because of the Fort McMurray fire in Alberta.
The effects of the fire though may extend far beyond Canada and Alaska, because of the frozen organic matter under the forest permafrost. Wildfires can strip away the protective vegetative blanket and release all that stockpiled carbon into the atmosphere. The thawing soil could also trigger microbial activity, releasing more carbon dioxide and methane. [Source: New Scientist]
|
 |
