A story of ice and fire: thermokarst in the northern boreal zone
Venue: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8951629892 Meeting ID: 891 5162 9892
Thermokarst (thaw) lakes are largely natural features that have moved centre stage with the growing appreciation of rapid arctic warming. Although simple in concept (ground ice thaw leads to surface collapse and pond formation), they are challenging to study, and generalisations about what drives their dynamics can be unhelpful. Fire and thermokarst are also linked, and with the prevalence of fire apparently increasing across much of the northern boreal zone, there is growing concern about their interaction. In Siberia, thermokarst is widespread and has been the subject of research for decades, though currently in Russia a poor economy and low support for research institutions has limited work. This situation and the critical place of Siberia within climate change and the global carbon cycle are strong arguments for international scientific cooperation and a reason to conduct “scientific diplomacy”.
Date: 17 March 2021, 16:00 (Wednesday, 9th week, Hilary 2021)
Venue: Venue to be announced
Speaker: Prof Mary Edwards (University of Southampton)
Organiser: Dr Marc Macias-Fauria (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: marc.maciasfauria@ouce.ox.ac.uk
Host: Dr Marc Macias-Fauria (University of Oxford)
Part of: OUPF Spring 2021 Seminar Series
Booking required?: Not required
Booking url: http://www.polar.ox.ac.uk/events/oupf-spring-seminar-series-prof-mary-edwards/
Cost: FREE
Audience: Members of the University only
Editor: Marc Macias Fauria