Why Iceland?

Polar regions are predicted to experience amplified anthropogenic warming compared to other regions as evidenced by accelerated glacial retreat, sea-ice thinning, and permafrost degradation.  Polar lakes, the focus of this study, contribute disproportionately to the global methane budget and yet are understudied as compared to more accessible sites at mid or lower latitudes.  Iceland is unique compared to higher-latitude polar regions – there is no permafrost.  Instead, geothermal activity that varies across the landscape creates a broad gradient in lake temperature that can serve as a valuable proxy for studying the effects of climate change.  

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