Looking at this lush orange river, you might be fooled into thinking it’s just a snapshot of a beautiful valley, but a closer look reveals that all is not as it seems.
Last year, photographer Taylor Rhodes traveled to the remote Western Brooks Range in northwest Alaska and drew attention to how global warming is turning these waters not just rust-colored, but rust itself. The color is the result of iron oxidation along with sulfuric acid that is being released as melting ice releases sediments once locked in frozen permafrost. These chemicals are working their way into nearby tributaries, creating a mixture that’s toxic to ecosystems and wildlife.
This photo, and others below, show how human activities are “adversely affecting some of the most remote places and ecosystems,” Rhodes said. This area, hundreds of kilometres from any settlement, has warmed an average of 2.4°C since 2006.
Rhodes’ shot, titled Last River won the New Scientist Editors’ Award, one of nine categories in this year’s New Scientist Editors’ Awards. Earth Photo Contest is an international photography competition showcasing photos and videos that tell compelling stories about our planet. The winning submissions will be exhibited at the Royal Geographical Society in London until 21 August.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
