Buried deep in the muck beneath ancient Arctic lakes, there are clues that can help scientists learn what the climate was like thousands of years ago — and what it could be in the future.
Kellen McArthur ’19G is piecing together this historical record as part of his master’s degree in geology with the UNH Department of Earth Sciences. McArthur spent two weeks above the Arctic Circle this past April collecting samples of sediment cores from the bottom of three lakes. This area, part of the Stordalen Mire Complex, is dotted with lakes and permafrost — the latter of which is thawing more frequently in recent years due to climate change.
McArthur is focusing on the region because it is and has long been sensitive to change and, therefore, could provide a good record of environmental and climate changes. Sediment cores offer a glimpse into the past because they hold layers of pollen, dust, algae and other small particles that drift to the bottom of the lake over time, creating layers that tell a story.
“I love geologic history for the perspective it provides,” McArthur says. “If you know what has happened in the past with the climate at the mire, it’s possible that you could predict what will happen there in the future.”
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Image via University of New Hampshire.