Climate crisis

Look! The Siberian Arctic is on fire and the impact could be devastating

Arctic fires could set a dangerous feedback loop in motion.

satellite image of smoke swirling over Siberia
Joshua Stevens/NASA
The Siberian Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth.

Temperatures regularly drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, and historical records show it nearing minus 100 in some isolated spots.

Anton Petrus/Moment/Getty Images

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Because of the frigid weather, large portions of the Arctic are covered in permafrost, a layer of soil that remains frozen year-round.

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