Presenter(s): Maya Tagwerker − Pre-business Administration
Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland
Poster 188
Research Area: Science
The world is changing around us. The change has been expertly linked to the detrimental effects of climate change. The cryosphere is the portion of the Earth with water in solid form. The understanding of the cryosphere has allowed for more in-depth discussion surrounding the implications of climate change on ecology, geology, and hydrology. Within the cryosphere lies the permafrost. The permafrost is the thick surface layer of soil that should generally remain frozen throughout the year. However, the permafrost, has been steadily melting at a rapid rate. Through research in peer-reviewed journal articles, I have come to understand the effects of a changing permafrost, the land, as well as the surrounding rivers and lakes, must to analyzed. The tremendous work provided in Geophysical Research Letters journal have shown that the thawing of permafrost caused by warmer temperature has increased groundwater contribution to annual flow. Therefore, my research question is how is the current degradation of the permafrost disrupting the hydrology of the surrounding ground surface in the Qinghai- Tibet Plateau? By understanding how the loss of permafrost not only affects the oceans, but our land and vegetation as well. The purpose of this is to have the public be more willing to learn about the dangers that will surround us if the permafrost were to completely disappear.