Calgary scientists have identified some of the most acidic natural water in the world in the Northwest Territories. The thawing of permafrost and land erosion from the Smoking Hills Formation, triggered by climate change, is leading to the release of toxic metals and a highly acidic solution into rivers and potentially the Arctic Ocean.
Research scientist Stephen Grasby from the Geological Survey of Canada visited the site in 2017 and 2023 and was astonished by the extreme toxicity and acidity in the ponds around the Smoking Hills. The toxic metals causing this phenomenon were trapped in iron sulfide minerals known as pyrite, or “fool’s gold,” millions of years ago during active volcanism in Arctic Canada.
Due to slumping, there has been a significant increase in the exposure of pyrite to oxygen, resulting in the release of high quantities of metals into the surrounding waters. The landscape has dramatically changed, with the ponds turning black and resembling oil due to their high acidity levels.
Grasby encountered negative pH values in the water, beyond the capability of standard pH meters to measure accurately. The ground temperature was too hot to register, with evidence suggesting temperatures exceeding 1,200 degrees Celsius just below the surface layer. The thawing of permafrost due to climate change is exacerbating the situation.
Elliott Skierszkan from Carleton University emphasizes the need to study the consequences of permafrost thaw on water quality, as it has led to a new impact on the environment. Concerns are raised about the potential leakage of metals into other water bodies, affecting river ecosystems downstream.
More research is deemed necessary to fully comprehend the implications of climate change on the Smoking Hills. Grasby stresses the importance of understanding the accelerated processes affecting the Arctic environment and hopes the findings will prompt further investigations in the region.
