The land was giving us hints of what was to come, says Richard Gordon, a senior ranger. We found all these puddles of clear water, but it hadn't rained at all in days. That ice in the permafrost had melted, indicating a major environmental shift that we had not previously recognized.
It's hard not to get emotionally invested because you are studying and witnessing irreversible changes, remarks Isla Myers-Smith, an ecology professor. Each time a section of the tundra collapses, it not only represents a data point lost but also evokes a deep sense of loss for the ecosystems that have persisted for decades.
Over the next two weeks, the landslides happened again and again. Some collapses were quick, soil ripping away with a damp thunderclap, while others occurred slowly, reminiscent of a carpet rolling down the slope. This stark contrast demonstrates the varying impacts of climate change on the Arctic landscape.
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