Becky Hewitt, an environmental studies professor at Amherst College, expressed her alarm regarding the pH issue, emphasizing its potential consequences. The health of these rivers is not only crucial for the diverse fish and wildlife but also for the human populations living in their vicinity.
Bacteria and Contamination Factors
While scientists initially understood the mechanisms behind the rusting waterways, identifying the exact cause of contamination remained a challenge. The prevailing theory suggests that thawing permafrost is exposing bedrock, leading to the release of sulfuric acid and iron—a phenomenon known as acid-rock drainage.
Another hypothesis, the “wetlands hypothesis,” posits that soil bacteria, activated by thawing wetlands, are producing soluble iron contributing to the rusty color.
Roman Dial, a researcher and professor of biology and mathematics at Alaska Pacific University, described the disconcerting discoloration as something that looks “like something’s been broken open or something’s been exposed in a way that has never been exposed before.”
Impact on Communities
The consequences of this transformation are not just ecological; they extend to the communities relying on these rivers. The Wulik River, one of the affected waterways, poses a significant threat to Kivalina, a coastal village with a population of 444 people. The river’s water and fish are essential to the village’s survival, and the rusty waters put a cherished fish called the Dolly Varden at risk. Preserving the unique ecosystem of the river is crucial for the village’s well-being.
