- Woolly-Mammoth-0.mp3
- Woolly-Mammoth-0.mp4
- Woolly-Mammoth-I.mp3
- Woolly-Mammoth-I.mp4
- Woolly-Mammoth-II.mp3
- Woolly-Mammoth-II.mp4
- Woolly-Mammoth-Prequel-I.mp3
- Woolly-Mammoth-Prequel-I.mp4
- Woolly-Mammoth-Prequel-II.mp3
- Woolly-Mammoth-Prequel-II.mp4
- Woolly-Mammoth-Prequel-III.mp3
- Woolly-Mammoth-Prequel-III.mp4
- Woolly-Mammoth-Reggae-I.mp3
- Woolly-Mammoth-Reggae-I.mp4
- Woolly-Mammoth-Reggae-II.mp3
- Woolly-Mammoth-Reggae-III.mp4
- Woolly-Mammoth-intro.mp3
[Intro]
We’re not entering a new ice age
Reverse the page…
We’re entering the old ice age
[Instrumental, Synth Solo]
That’s cold
(But not cold enough)
The old
(Are hanging tough)
[Bridge]
Permafrost thaw
(All in awe)
As the ancient dead
(Come back alive)
Out of death’s bed
(Will we survive)
[Chorus]
Woolly Mammoth
(We will unearth)
I suppose we should think again
(Exposing ancient pathogens)
[Verse]
No, not a new ice age
Reverse the page…
Know the old ice age
[Instrumental, Synth Solo]
That’s cold
(But not cold enough)
The old
(Are hanging tough)
[Bridge]
Permafrost thaw
(All in awe)
As the ancient dead
(Come back alive)
Out of death’s bed
(Will we survive)
[Chorus]
Woolly Mammoth
(We will unearth)
I suppose we should think again
(Exposing ancient pathogens)
[Outro]
That’s cold
(But not cold enough)
A SCIENCE NOTE
Woolly mammoths and other ancient creatures are thawing from the permafrost as a direct result of climate change. The Arctic’s permafrost—ground that has remained frozen for thousands of years—is melting at unprecedented rates due to rising global temperatures. Here’s how and why this phenomenon occurs:
1. Warming Temperatures and Permafrost Thaw
- Global Heating: The Arctic is warming up to four times faster than the global average, causing widespread permafrost thaw.
- Loss of Insulating Layers: The melting of snow and ice, along with shrinking vegetation, exposes the ground to warmer air, accelerating thawing.
- Deeper Thaw Layers: As temperatures rise, the active layer of soil (the top layer that thaws and refreezes annually) penetrates deeper, reaching areas where mammoth remains have been buried for thousands of years.
2. Preservation of Woolly Mammoths in Permafrost
- Natural Cryopreservation: Permafrost acts as a natural freezer, preserving the bodies of woolly mammoths, often with their hair, skin, and even internal organs intact.
- Discovery of Intact Remains: As permafrost thaws, these well-preserved remains become exposed, either through natural erosion or human activities such as mining and road construction.
3. Scientific and Ecological Implications
- Release of Greenhouse Gases: Thawing permafrost releases methane and carbon dioxide stored in frozen organic matter, exacerbating climate change. Decomposing mammoth bodies contribute to this process.
- New Insights into Ancient Ecosystems: Scientists study these remains to understand ancient ecosystems, DNA, and even diseases like anthrax that could be released from thawing carcasses.
- Ethical and Practical Questions: The idea of de-extincting woolly mammoths through DNA extraction has sparked debates about its feasibility and ecological impacts.
4. Impacts on Local Communities
- Cultural Significance: For indigenous communities, these discoveries can hold cultural and historical value.
- Economic Opportunities: Mammoth tusks are often harvested and sold, creating a niche market for fossilized ivory.
- Public Health Risks: The thawing permafrost could expose ancient pathogens, posing unknown risks to humans and animals.
5. Examples of Recent Discoveries
- Yuka Mammoth (Russia): A 39,000-year-old juvenile mammoth was discovered in Siberia, with remarkably preserved soft tissues.
- Mammoth Graveyards: Sites in Alaska and Siberia have yielded numerous mammoth bones and carcasses due to permafrost thaw.
The thawing of woolly mammoths highlights the interconnectedness of climate change, ancient history, and modern ecological and ethical challenges. It is both a fascinating scientific opportunity and a stark reminder of the accelerating impacts of global warming.
The thawing of the permafrost is also part of a feedback loop. A feedback loop, also called a “Positive Feedback Mechanism”, in the context of climate refers to a process where an initial change in a system triggers additional changes that further reinforce and amplify the original change. In other words, the feedback loop amplifies the effects in the same direction as the initial change, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. Positive feedback mechanisms can contribute to the acceleration and intensification of certain climate-related processes; therefore, I hesitate to use the word “positive” in the description because the outcome is quite negative.
- Permafrost Thawing Feedback:
- Mechanism: As global temperatures rise, permafrost (frozen soil in polar regions) thaws, releasing stored carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere.
- Effect: The release of greenhouse gases from permafrost contributes to further warming, leading to more permafrost thaw and additional greenhouse gas emissions.