A new study has found that Arctic river deltas contain approximately 63 billion tons of carbon in their frozen soils, accumulated over thousands of years. Researchers analyzed over 1,600 soil samples from major deltas like Siberia's Lena River and Canada's Mackenzie River. Despite covering only 1% of permafrost areas, these deltas store about 5% of all permafrost carbon. As Arctic temperatures rise, this trapped carbon could be released into the atmosphere, accelerating climate change. The study also notes that these deltas hold billions of tons of nitrogen, which could disrupt local ecosystems if thawed. The findings highlight a critical but often overlooked carbon reservoir that may become a significant emissions source in a warming world.
