Saturday, March 25, 2023

Permafrost is a frozen superpower ground that stays chilly at or below 0°C (32°F) for at least two years. But when permafrost gets thawed, it’s like waking up a sleeping giant, as the organic matter inside it decomposes and releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In this session, we created our own little permafrost world to explore how permafrost works and what we can do to help slow climate change.

Preparation (optional): 1 day before, freeze one ice cube tray with some drops of food colouring to create coloured ice cubes. 

Materials: 1 small plastic food container, 200g of crackers, 1 cup of water, ice cubes, Play Dough or modelling clay (1 white stick + 2 sticks in other colours), black sharpie.

Expert: Katie Bennett, M. Sc., is a biogeochemist – researching biology, geology, and chemistry – pursuing her Ph. D. at the University of Montreal. Katie studies how climate change impacts how nutrients move through soil, water, and air in the Arctic.