Alaskan Rivers Turning Orange Due to Climate Change, Study Finds

Dozens of rivers and streams in Alaska are turning a rusty orange color, likely due to the effects of thawing permafrost, according to a new study. As the Arctic continues to warm at an unprecedented rate, the previously frozen ground beneath the surface is melting, releasing minerals into the waterways.

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The Arctic is currently the fastest-warming region on the planet. As the permafrost thaws, minerals that were once trapped in the soil are now seeping into rivers and streams. This process, known as weathering, increases the water’s acidity and dissolves metals such as zinc, copper, cadmium, and iron. Iron is particularly notable for giving the water its distinctive rusty orange hue, which can be seen even from satellite images.

Brett Poulin, the study’s author and an assistant professor of environmental toxicology at the University of California Davis, highlighted the unexpected nature of this phenomenon. “It’s an unforeseen impact of Climate change that we’re seeing in some of the most pristine rivers in our country,” he said.

The study also emphasizes the potential threats to drinking water and fisheries in the Arctic. The increased metal content in the water can be harmful to aquatic life. “When mixed with another river, it can actually make the metals even more potent in its impact on aquatic health,” Poulin added.

The orange discoloration was first noticed in 2018 across northern Alaska’s Brooks Range. The change was dramatic compared to the clear waters observed the previous year. In the same year, a tributary of the Akillik River in Kobuk Valley National Park saw the complete loss of two local fish species: the dolly varden and the slimy sculpin. Researchers noted a significant decrease in macroinvertebrates and biofilm, which form the base of the food web, after the river turned orange.

This rusting phenomenon occurs seasonally, typically during the summer months of July and August when the soil thaws the most. Researchers from the National Park Service, US Geological Survey, and University of California Davis are now focused on understanding the long-term implications of these changes in water chemistry in areas with continuous permafrost, including regions in Alaska, Canada, Russia, and parts of Scandinavia.

Scott Zolkos, an Arctic scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center, noted that the Arctic is warming two to three times faster than the rest of the planet, suggesting that these effects are likely to persist.

The research team is also collaborating with tribal liaisons in Alaska to ensure that local communities are well-informed about this developing phenomenon.

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