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CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS

Lightning threatens permafrost

Thawing Arctic permafrost, and release of its stored carbon, is a known amplifier of global warming. Now research suggests an increase in Arctic lightning could speed up the permafrost’s demise.

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Fig. 1: Increases in lightning could cause a series of feedbacks.

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Correspondence to Declan L. Finney.

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Finney, D.L. Lightning threatens permafrost. Nat. Clim. Chang. 11, 379–380 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01016-7

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