Peat: Not a “darling”

Question: What is peat? Is it soil? Why does it form in some places and not others? The word “peat” in the 1500s was used to describe a “merry young girl” or a “darling.” This is NOT the peat that we find in soils and wetlands...and odds are you won’t find a darling in these …

What is permafrost?

Question: Melting permafrost seems to be in the news a lot lately. What is permafrost and what happens when it melts? Answer: Permafrost, which is mostly located at high latitudes close to the North and South Poles and at high altitudes in mountainous regions, is defined as a perennially frozen, subsurface layer that remains below …