Could a “Mercury Bomb” Explode in the Arctic?

As frozen Arctic permafrost thaws in a warming climate, an enormous amount of toxic mercury could be released, which would have serious health implications locally, regionally and globally, according to USC Dornsife Earth Sciences Prof. Josh West. Permafrost holds more mercury than the Earth’s oceans, atmosphere and all other soils — combined. West and his team are conducting experiments in Alaska’s Yukon River Basin to determine how quickly mercury is being released from permafrost and how soon a “mercury bomb” might explode. Read the research here: The USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is the academic core of the University of Southern California, located in the heart of Los Angeles. Learn more: