The Big Thaw: Ancient Carbon, Modern Science, and a Race to Save the World

Permafrost—dark, ice-flaked, permanently frozen ground that lies under tundra and boreal forests across our northern regions—covers more than 12 percent of the earth’s land surface. It exists in places that seem otherworldly and unimaginably remote to most of us, but the changes taking place in the permafrost layer may ultimately affect the lives of every person on Earth.

The permafrost layer contains a vast store of ancient carbon, more than four times the quantity found in all of today’s forests. It is like a ticking “carbon bomb”, releasing carbon dioxide and methane as the permafrost thaws. Braving hordes of mosquitoes, quicksand, and extreme temperatures, researchers are racing against the clock to educate us about the changes we must make to preserve Earth’s carbon balance.

Arctic scientist Max Holmes and photographer Chris Linder will share stories about their work studying and photographing thawing permafrost in Siberia and the Arctic. Their new book The Big Thaw: Ancient Carbon, Modern Science, and a Race to Save the World will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation.