Question 7GS1GS1

What is thermokarst? Analyse its growing relevance in the context of Arctic permafrost thawing and global climate change.

Open scan (p.13)

Answer Strengths Gaps Keywords

Introduction

Thermokarst are surface cavities in earth caused by melting permafrost in North Arctic and polar regions.

16 words

Main Body

Thermokarst are surface cavities in earth caused by melting permafrost in North Arctic and polar regions.

Features:

1. Located in regions where permafrost has melted

2. Circular surface depressions and sinkholes due to soil subsidence

3. Are sometimes filled with ice meltwater

Growing relevance of Thermokarst:

1Arctic Permafrost thawing → Arctic region is heating 2m that of global average → resulting in thawing of permafrost

This has caused thermokarsts and has depleted carbon sinks by of happened organic matter

It also degrades landside Siberian badlands ave an example

Permafrost thawing leads to disease outbreaks near pthermokarsts [Siberian anthrax outbreak, 2016]

2Climate change:

Primary driver of permafrost thawing and thermokarst occurrence is global warming

Result in thawing permafrost and 'greening of ice-line'

Reduces earth's ability to radiate heatintensifying temp rise

Thermokarsts serve as an urgent climate correction to tackle global warming.

Arctic region is heating 2m that of global averageresulting in thawing of permafrost

This has caused thermokarsts and has depleted carbon sinks by of happened organic matter

It also degrades landside Siberian badlands ave an example

Permafrost thawing leads to disease outbreaks near pthermokarsts [Siberian anthrax outbreak, 2016]

Climate change:

Primary driver of permafrost thawing and thermokarst occurrence is global warming

Result in thawing permafrost and 'greening of ice-line'

Reduces earth's ability to radiate heatintensifying temp rise.

Thermokarsts serve as a sitting by urgent climate correction to tackle global warming.

250 words14 paragraphs

Conclusion

Thermokarsts serve as an urgent climate correction to tackle global warming.

11 words

Diagram

Distribution of thermokarst and periglacial features in Arctic regions

Clear definition and features of thermokarst
Connects geological process to climate change implications
Includes real-world case study
Discusses carbon cycle implications
Includes diagram

Open original scan

Page 13

Topper

Varun Tokas

AIR 117

Subject & Paper

GS1GS1

Topic

Salient features of World's Physical Geography

Important Geophysical Phenomena and climate change

Thermokarst, permafrost, and climate change

Writing Stats

277

Total words

Paragraphs