Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 07/15/2013 - 16:48

Hi Mr. Taterka!

I hope you are enjoying your trip in Alaska so far! Your journals and photos are incredible!! I was fascinated by your recent journal entries on the microbes and their affect on organic matter and CO2. My question is based on your data collection. How is your data serving to help you calculate or notice a trend in the rate that the permafrost is thawing and the carbon is being released? Have you noticed any distinct rates of melting during your expedition so far? Also, I was wondering if the microbes have a direct affect on the melting permafrost or if climate change is the only factor that makes it melt? By the way, the midnight sun time lapse video was amazing!

Enjoy your last few days in Toolik!

Kristina Filippini

Bruce Taterka

Kristina -
Great questions! Trends in permafrost thawing have to be looked at over the course of years, to see how one year compares to another and if seasonal thaw depths are changing over time. We actually have that data now, and some of Mr. Messare's statistics students are analyzing it. I'm really looking forward to seeing their analysis.
I've seen a lot of melting as summer progresses, but there's still lots of snow and ice. I had an interesting lesson on melting the other day from a scientist who's been working here at Toolik for years - he gave me a pictures from 2002 of the snow-capped mountains I can see from my tent, but when you look at them now you can see that the glacier has melting way way back in the past 11 years. The microbes don't play a direct role in the melting, but indirectly affect melting by impacting climate.
Glad you enjoyed the midnight sun video. Thanks for the questions and enjoy the rest of your summer!
- Mr. T