Rapidly thawing permafrost is acidifying streams across North America

An acidifying body of water in Yukon. Acidification is driven by the weathering of rocks, which release acid, sulphate and toxic metals into groundwater and streams. (Elliott Skierszkan), CC BY-NC Streams are abruptly acidifying and turning orange or milky-white across vast regions of North America’s northwest. This is caused by permafrost thaw — an outcome of a warming climate that has immediate consequences for water and wildlife. Stream acidification is driven by the weathering of naturally…