NASA researchers have identified the rapid formation of thermokarst lakes in Alaska, such as Big Trail Lake, which appeared within the last 50 years. These lakes form as ice-rich permafrost melts, causing the ground to collapse and create basins that trap water. These young lakes act as methane hotspots. As microbes decompose organic matter frozen since the Ice Age, they release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. This process creates a feedback loop where warming water further thaws the ground and unlocks deeper carbon reserves.
