UN sparks Methane Global Warming scare on Cancun eve

[denem]

Source: Reporting Climate Science

The UN's weather agency has used the (WMO - UN World Meteorological Organization) press release announcing its annual report on greenhouse gas levels to raise the spectre of rising temperatures triggering the rapid release of methane, a powerful warming gas, that could accelerate climate change. The announcement comes on the eve of the The United Nations Climate Change Conference to be held in Cancun, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010....

Methane (CH4) contributes 18.1% to the overall global radiative forcing and is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide...

After a period of temporary stabilization from 1999 to 2006, atmospheric methane has risen again from 2007-2009. The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin reports that the likely causes were above average wetland methane emissions due to exceptionally warm temperatures at high northern latitudes in 2007 and heavy precipitation in tropical wetlands in 2007 and 2008. However, it cautions that the reasons for the recent increases are not yet fully understood.

Northern permafrost contains large reservoirs of organic carbon and methane clathrates (a form of water ice that contains a large amount of methane within its crystal structure). Rapid warming and melting of the permafrost therefore has the potential to release large quantities of methane into the atmosphere which would contribute further to global warming...

Read more: http://www.reportingclimatescience.com/news-stories/article/un-sparks-methane-global-warming-scare-on-eve-of-cancun-conference.html

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There is little Climate Change conferences can do to slow the release of methane as the permafrosts melts. It's a feedback loop. Even a modest rise in global temperatures can turbo charge the melting of permafrost and seabed methane ice. Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than CO2. The only potential solution is to make much more drastic cuts in carbon emissions to offset the presence of greater atmospheric methane.

The ice that formed around the caps on the Deep Water Horizon leak? Yep, it was methane clathrate.

[Richard D]

1. This is . . .

. . . in other words: Bend over and kiss your ass goodbye.

[hatrack]

2. Shocking! Who could POSSIBLY have predicted something like this!

:eyes:

[lunatica]

3. It's probably already too late to do anything except learn to live with runaway climate change

I guess we could do a few things like use alternate forms of renewable energy, but if the planet is leaking methane what can be done?

Uranus and Neptune have large quantities of methane. As far as we know there's no life there.

[fascisthunter]

4. when the shit really hits the fan, remember who lied to you

about this issue. When business is placed higher on ones priority list over the well being of humans, they need to be mocked, humiliated and publicly ostracized... these people are dangerously stupid and dangerously greedy.

[SpiralHawk]

7. "Smirk." - Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R)

"Hell, who wouldn't lie about climate for $40 million in RepubliCorp payola ever year. Bwaaa ha ha ha ha. Sneer."

- Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R)

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, denem.

[Bragi]

6. Oh, sorry about the coming collapse...

To: My Grandchildren

From: Me

Re: Sorry about the coming collapse!

I wish we could have avoided the collapse of your food system, averted the famines and mass migrations you are facing, along with the wars and all that, but it turns out my generation lacked the cohesion and strength needed to force politicians to address climate change, even after the catastrophic impacts were clear.

On the other hand, and in our defense, the McRib sandwich is back!

- Your grandfather

[galileoreloaded]

8. Dear Grandpa...

It's OK.

We really never had much hope that much would change anyway. Think about it though, we really don't even know what we are missing:

No idea what a "pension" or "retirement" is.....
No concept of parity.....
No clue how to change a tire even.

We have bigger and more immediate issues. Seriously.

See you at Thanksgiving!

Your Grandson,

Skippy

[Bragi]

9. Dear Skippy:

Due to austerity measures, Thanksgiving has been canceled for this year.

Next year there may be one, provided that taxes are reduced again for those few of us still with income, and this stimulates enough economic growth to cover the cost of your dinner.

Otherwise, grandma and I will be eating turkey all alone once again, and thinking of you.

Best.

- Grandpa

[yurbud]

10. Cancun Eve? Is it spring break already?