Elizabeth Kolbert starts her book in Shishmaref, Alaska. It is a tiny island off the coast of Alaska. Global warming is causing the island serious problems, because it is only 22 feet above sea level. The government is considering relocating the town to the mainland. Without a doubt, Shishmaref will be under water in the future. Kolbert then moves on to the mainland to meet up with Valdimir Romanovsky. Romanovsky is a geophysicist that is studying the Alaskan permafrost. Permafrost is ground that is frozen for over two years. Global warming is causing more CO2 filled permafrost than ever to melt. Permafrost is the reason the Alaskan pipeline is above ground, so the oil does not freeze. In addition to this, an expedition by icebreaker Des Groseilliers
