Rapid permafrost degradation in Canada’s Arctic is physically dismantling the landscape, forcing a shift in traditional hunting practices and threatening the viability of northern settlements. According to photographer Natalya Saprunova, whose work won the New Scientist Editors Award at the Earth Photo 2026 competition, thawing ground is releasing trapped mercury into food chains and eroding the very coastlines that sustain Indigenous communities.
How does permafrost thaw reshape the Arctic food supply?
The warming climate alters the behavior of local wildlife, impacting the subsistence hunting and fishing that communities like those in Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok rely on. As permafrost melts, it transforms the ground into a web of sunken polygons filled with water, making it difficult for animals such as caribou to navigate their migratory routes, according to Saprunova’s field observations.
Beyond navigation, the structural failure of the land introduces chemical hazards. Thawing permafrost releases mercury into the environment, which accumulates in fish populations. Because these fish serve as a primary food source for residents on Victoria Island, this contamination poses a direct risk to local food security.
The Arctic landscape is currently being altered by the formation of “conical, ice-cored hills” and uneven terrain that prevent traditional movement patterns for both humans and animals.
Why are Arctic hamlets facing displacement?
The physical erosion of the Arctic coastline has reached a point where infrastructure, including residential homes, is now in direct danger. In Sachs Harbour, Banks Island, Saprunova documented cliffs of permafrost crumbling into the sea, bringing the shoreline dangerously close to established housing.
Canada holds the longest inhabited Arctic coastline globally, and the accelerating rate of erosion suggests that some residents may become the country’s first climate refugees. This displacement is not merely a forecast; the visible cracks in the cliffs near homes in Sachs Harbour illustrate an immediate, ongoing catastrophe.
What is the feedback loop between melting ice and global temperatures?
The degradation of the Arctic is self-perpetuating. Pelly Island, often referred to as the “disappearing island” in northwestern Canada, serves as a primary example of this cycle. As the permafrost that constitutes the island melts, it releases stored greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
According to Saprunova, this release of gases contributes to rising global temperatures, which in turn accelerates the melting of the island itself. This creates a destructive feedback loop where the land is literally consumed by the atmospheric changes it helps to trigger.
To see these environmental shifts firsthand, the Royal Geographic Society in London is hosting an exhibition of Saprunova’s photography series until 24 July.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does thawing permafrost release mercury?
Permafrost acts as a long-term sink for various compounds. When the ground thaws, these stored elements, including mercury, are released into the surrounding water and soil, where they enter the local food web.
What are “sunken polygons” in the Arctic?
These are geometric patterns that form on the tundra as ice wedges deep underground melt. The ground collapses into the void, creating a landscape of pits and ridges that complicate travel for caribou and other wildlife.
Is the entire Canadian Arctic coastline eroding?
While erosion is widespread, it is particularly severe in areas with high permafrost content. Settlements like Sachs Harbour are witnessing the literal disappearance of coastal cliffs, creating an urgent need for infrastructure planning.
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