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The 2024 Arctic Report Card by the US NOAA notes that frequent fires and fossil fuel pollution are turning the Arctic tundra into a carbon source.
The Arctic Biome is one of the coldest and most carbon-rich ecosystems on Earth. It plays a vital role in global climate regulation yet is now under severe threat due to climate change, wildfires and permafrost thaw.
Spans ~5 million km² north of the Arctic Circle.
Includes parts of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia, and Eurasia notably Siberia.
Includes Arctic tundra and Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ) (tundra + coniferous forests + wetlands).
Climate
Extreme cold: –60°C (winter) to 15.5°C (summer).
Low annual precipitation: 150–250 mm, mostly as snow
Long, harsh winters and short growing seasons.
Soil & Permafrost
Permafrost is the ground that remains frozen year round. Only the top layer thaws during summer → limits plant growth.
Rich in organic carbon especially in peat and humus.
Vegetation
Low biodiversity; dominant species: Grasses, mosses, lichens, dwarf shrubs e.g., willow.
Adapted to cold, poor soil, strong winds.
Wildlife
Includes caribou, polar bears, musk ox, arctic foxes and migratory birds like snow geese.
Insects especially mosquitoes emerge during thaw periods.
Sparse human population; mostly indigenous communities e.g., Inuit.
Economic activities:
Fishing, hunting, reindeer herding.
Mining such as gold in Alaska, iron ore in Labrador & Kiruna.
Oil and gas extraction e.g., Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.
Arctic ports, railways and icebreakers facilitate transport.
Traditionally
Massive carbon reservoir due to frozen organic matter in permafrost.
Wetlands and tundra sequester CO₂ over centuries.
Recent Findings
Over 30% of the Arctic Boreal Zone has stopped absorbing carbon.
It is now emitting CO₂, turning from a carbon sink to a carbon source.
Caused by Heatwaves, long dry spells and early spring thaw. Studies show wildfire radiative power has increased 10x.
In 2025 alone 800000 tonnes of carbon released via wildfires.
Warming leads to thawing permafrost → organic matter decomposes, releasing:
CO₂ and methane → potent greenhouse gases.
Now more carbon is emitted in non-summer months than is absorbed in summer.
Alaska, Siberia and northern Europe are the largest new carbon sources.
Warming → Fires → Carbon Emissions → More Warming → More Thaw → More Fires
Climate change makes Arctic soils drier and more flammable. Fires destroy vegetation and release sequestered carbon. Thawing permafrost emits methane a gas 25x more potent than CO₂.
Global
Disruption in the global carbon budget.
Acceleration of global warming.
Greater sea level rise, ice melt and ocean current disruption.
India Specific
Glacial melt in Himalayas may mirror Arctic thaw effects.
Forest fires are intensifying:
Uttarakhand: Over 5000 fires in 2022–23.
Estimated 69 million tonnes of CO₂ annually from Indian forest fires.
Rising land temperatures (0.1–0.4°C/decade) lead to more Indian wildfires.
Nature Climate Change (2025): ABZ transformation to carbon source.
NOAA Arctic Report Card (2024): “Vital signs” of Arctic are near-record highs.
India State of Forest Report (2024): Fire hotspots declining slightly but still critical.
Monitoring Arctic change is difficult due to harsh conditions.
Global inaction and insufficient mitigation strategies.
Geopolitical interest in Arctic resource extraction by Russia, USA, Canada, etc. adds pressure.
For Global Community
Enforce Paris Agreement targets.
Ban or limit Arctic drilling, mining and logging.
Support Indigenous knowledge systems and conservation.
For India
Invest in remote sensing for forest fire detection.
Strengthen fire management policies.
Collaborate on Arctic research through the Arctic Council (Observer status).
Sources:
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. “As the Arctic melts and burns, it threatens to tip the climate balance irreversibly.” Discuss. (250 words) |
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