The Impact of Climate Change on Arctic Streams: The Rise of “Orange” Waters

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Tracking the effects of iron mobilization on stream food webs. Images of a headwater tributary of the Akillik River in Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska, illustrating a shift from clearwater on June 12, 2017 (a) to orange stream conditions on August 30, 2018 (b). The blue arrows point to the same boulder near the confluence. c Stream food web data collected in before (September 2017) and after (September 2018) the color change demonstrates the reduction in benthic biofilmproduction, corresponding decline in benthic macroinvertebrate density, and a complete loss of resident fish (DV = Dolly Varden, SS = Slimy Sculpin). The open white circles in (c) represent observations where species absence was documented.


The Arctic is experiencing profound environmental changes due to climate change, with significant alterations in watershed hydrology and biogeochemistry. Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and management of water. Biogeochemistry is the scientific study of the chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes and reactions that govern the composition of the natural environment.

A recent study highlights a concerning phenomenon: the discoloration of streams in Alaska’s Brooks Range, turning from clear to orange. This discoloration is attributed primarily to increased concentrations of iron and toxic metals, a direct result of permafrost thaw.

Permafrost Thaw and Metal Mobilization

Permafrost, perennially frozen ground that has remained so for two or more consecutive years, is a crucial component of the Arctic ecosystem. It acts as a massive reservoir for organic carbon and metals, which, when thawed, begin to mobilize into the watershed. The study documents that this thawing, exacerbated by rapid warming and increased snowfall over the last decade, is leading to the rusting of Arctic streams, visible in their striking orange coloration. This discoloration is primarily due to the mobilization of iron (Fe) and other metals through the process of sulfide mineral weathering.

Impact on Water Quality

The transition of these streams from clear to orange is not just a superficial change. It reflects a significant degradation in water quality, characterized by lower pH levels, higher turbidity, and increased concentrations of sulfate, iron, and trace metals. These environmental shifts pose a considerable risk to the aquatic ecosystems and the species that depend on them. The research indicates dramatic declines in macroinvertebrate diversity and fish abundance in affected streams, pointing to a broader ecological crisis.

Biological Consequences

The biological impact of these changes is profound. The study notes a marked decrease in the diversity and abundance of aquatic life, crucial for maintaining the health of these ecosystems. Fish species, a key component of local subsistence diets, are particularly affected, with populations dwindling as their habitats degrade.

Broader Implications for Local Communities

The implications of these environmental changes extend beyond ecology. For rural communities in Alaska, which rely heavily on subsistence fishing and natural water sources, the degradation of stream quality poses a direct threat to food security and water safety. The research emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring and intervention to mitigate these impacts and protect community health and livelihoods.



Conceptual models of hypothesized processes contributing to the discoloration of Arctic streams in Alaska’s Brooks Range. The illustration includes consequences for water quality, aquatic food webs, and human implications, including drinking water and subsistence fishing.

Urgent Measures Required

The discoloration of Arctic streams serves as a visible indicator of deeper environmental disturbances linked to climate change. This situation calls for urgent research and adaptive management strategies to address the impacts of permafrost thaw. It highlights the necessity for increased monitoring to track the progression of these changes and for developing strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on Arctic waterways and the communities that depend on them.

Summing Up

The rusting of Arctic streams is more than an environmental curiosity; it is a clarion call highlighting the urgent need for action in the face of climate change. As permafrost continues to thaw, understanding its impact on Arctic hydrology and biogeochemistry becomes crucial. This study lays the groundwork for further research and action, aiming to preserve the Arctic’s ecological integrity and ensure the health and safety of its inhabitants.

Exploring Climate-Related Financial Risks: Insights from the Federal Reserve’s Pilot CSA Exercise

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Federal Reserve Board Building, 1936 (Paul Philippe Cret, architect). The Eccles Building. Credit: Photo by Pedrik, Flickr.


In May 2024, the Federal Reserve Board conducted a pilot Climate Scenario Analysis (CSA) exercise involving six of the largest U.S. bank holding companies—Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo. This exploratory exercise was designed to assess how these major financial institutions manage and understand the potential impacts of climate-related financial risks on their operations.

Objectives of the Pilot CSA Exercise

The primary goal of the pilot CSA was to enhance the ability of both banks and regulatory bodies to identify, estimate, monitor, and manage climate-related financial risks effectively. By simulating both physical and transition risks associated with climate change, the exercise aimed to test the resilience of business models to a range of climate scenarios.

Key Insights from the Exercise

The pilot CSA exercise highlighted varied approaches to climate risk among banks, significant data gaps, and the critical role of insurance in risk mitigation. The unpredictability of climate event timings adds complexity to integrating these risks into existing frameworks.

  • Varied Methodological Approaches: The exercise revealed that participating banks utilized diverse approaches to integrate climate risk scenarios into their risk assessments. These varied primarily due to differences in their business models, data accessibility, and previous experiences with similar exercises in other jurisdictions.

  • Significant Data and Modeling Challenges: One of the critical challenges highlighted was the lack of comprehensive and consistent data, particularly related to property characteristics and the climate risk management plans of counterparties. Many banks depended on external vendors to supplement these data gaps.

  • The Crucial Role of Insurance: The pilot underscored the importance of insurance in mitigating climate risks. The changing landscape of the insurance industry, including fluctuating costs and coverage, was noted as a critical area for ongoing monitoring.

  • Concerns Over Indirect and Chronic Risks: Participants acknowledged the need to better understand the broader economic impacts of local disruptions and long-term changes such as sea level rise, which are essential for comprehensive risk management.

  • Uncertainty in Risk Measurement: The inherent uncertainties around the timing and severity of climate impacts make it challenging for banks to integrate these risks into their standard risk management frameworks.

Building on these key insights, the exercise delved into specific risk modules to further explore how these challenges manifest in the context of physical and transition risks.

Modules Explored in the Exercise

The Physical Risk Module analyzed the impacts of climate events like hurricanes on real estate portfolios, while the Transition Risk Module evaluated the economic effects of shifting to a lower-carbon economy on asset values and business operations.

  • Physical Risk Module: This module focused on the direct impacts of acute climate-related events like hurricanes and floods on banks’ real estate portfolios, examining both immediate property damages and subsequent credit risks.

  • Transition Risk Module: It dealt with the financial strains from transitioning towards a lower-carbon economy, capturing risks to asset values and the overall viability of business operations.

The key insights from the pilot CSA exercise, which highlighted varied methodological approaches and significant data challenges, directly informed the focus and findings of the Physical and Transition Risk Modules that assessed the impacts of climate-related events and economic transitions on financial institutions.

Governance and Risk Management Enhancements

The exercise prompted banks to adapt their existing governance frameworks to address the specific challenges posed by climate risks. This adaptation included integrating tailored internal controls and audit processes to ensure compliance and effectiveness in managing these new risk types.

Importance of a Healthy Financial System to Climate Concerns

A healthy financial system is vital for addressing climate concerns as it supports funding for climate initiatives, ensures economic stability, facilitates effective insurance and risk management, allocates resources efficiently, funds innovation and research, and boosts consumer confidence and spending.

Summing Up

The pilot CSA exercise highlighted the complex nature of climate-related financial risks and the critical need for banks to continue enhancing their data handling, modeling techniques, and scenario analysis to capture these risks accurately. As banks work towards these improvements, the insights gained from this exercise will help in shaping better practices and policies to protect the financial system from potential climate disruptions.

Source: Federal Reserve Board. (2024). Pilot Climate Scenario Analysis Exercise Summary: Summary of Participants’ Risk-Management Practices and Estimates. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

How a Wild Orangutan’s Use of Medicinal Plants Reveals the Secrets of Animal Intelligence

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Left: Pictures of Fibraurea tinctoria leaves. The length of the leaves is between 15 to 17 cm. Right: Rakus feeding on Fibraurea tinctoria leaves (photo taken on June 26, the day after applying the plant mesh to the wound). Scientific Reports (Sci Rep) ISSN 2045-2322.

Nature’s Ingenious Healers

In a new study documented in the lush rainforests of the Gunung Leuser National Park, Indonesia, a male Sumatran orangutan has been observed applying a biologically active plant to a facial wound. This intriguing behavior not only showcases the intelligence of orangutans but also opens new avenues in understanding the evolutionary origins of medicine. Here’s an overview of this fascinating study, which could reshape our understanding of non-human self-medication and its implications for natural healing practices.

Intelligent Healing: Orangutan’s Use of Medicinal Plants

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior and several Indonesian institutions captured a rare and enlightening behavior exhibited by a male Sumatran orangutan named Rakus. After sustaining a facial wound, Rakus was observed selecting, chewing, and applying leaves from the Fibraurea tinctoria plant—commonly known as Akar Kuning—directly onto the wound. Over several days, he applied the masticated leaves and juice, effectively managing his injury.



Process of wound healing. Rakus fed on and later applied the masticated leaves of Fibraurea tinctoria to his facial wound on June 25. On June 26 he was again observed feeding on Fibraurea tinctoria leaves (see photo). By June 30 the wound was closed and by August 25 was barely visible anymore. Scientific Reports (Sci Rep) ISSN 2045-2322.

Fibraurea Tinctoria: Nature’s Pharmacy

Akar Kuning is not just any plant; it’s a cornerstone of traditional medicine in Southeast Asia, renowned for its analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The study highlights the presence of furanoditerpenoids and protoberberine alkaloids in the plant, compounds known for their antibacterial and healing capabilities. This suggests that Rakus’s choice of treatment was not coincidental but driven by an intrinsic understanding or learned behavior regarding the plant’s medicinal benefits.

Implications for Human and Veterinary Medicine

This behavior documented by the research team is among the first systematically observed case of a wild animal using a biologically active substance for wound treatment, providing invaluable insights into the potential origins of medicinal practices among humans.

Active wound treatment among great apes was only recently observed for the first time outside of the Sumatran orangutan. In Loango National Park, Gabon, researchers documented chimpanzees from the Rekambo community using insects as a form of medication. These chimpanzees applied insects to their own wounds and those of their peers, with nineteen instances of self-treatment and three instances where they treated other members of their community. This behavior provides further evidence of the sophisticated self-medication practices that exist within the great ape species.

The findings could have significant implications not only for understanding animal behavior but also for veterinary and even human medicine, offering natural alternatives or complements to synthetic drugs.

Evolutionary Perspectives on Health

The observation suggests that the use of medicinal plants is possibly an evolved trait among great apes, indicating that such practices could date back to common ancestors shared with humans. This behavior demonstrates a complex level of cognitive function and environmental awareness, suggesting that orangutans might be capable of health management practices that have evolved independently but parallel to human developments.

Future Research and Conservation Efforts

The study underscores the importance of continued research and conservation efforts in the habitats of orangutans. Understanding their behavior and environment not only helps protect these intelligent creatures but also aids in preserving the rich biodiversity of the rainforests, which holds untapped potential for medicinal discoveries.

Summing Up

The self-medication behavior exhibited by the Sumatran orangutan opens up new dialogues in both the scientific community and public sphere about the cognitive capabilities of non-human primates and their conservation. As we delve deeper into the natural world’s secrets, such studies are pivotal in bridging the gap between human and animal health practices, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.

By promoting awareness and fostering research in these critical areas, we can better appreciate our closest living relatives’ sophisticated behaviors and the natural resources that our planet has to offer. This study is not just a testament to the intelligence of orangutans but also a call to action for conservation and respect for wildlife and their natural habitats.