Arctic permafrost leaking methane at record levels -- up by 1/3 over 5 years

[phantom power]

Experts say methane emissions from the Arctic have risen by almost one-third in just five years, and that sharply rising temperatures are to blame.

The discovery follows a string of reports from the region in recent years that previously frozen boggy soils are melting and releasing methane in greater quantities. Such Arctic soils currently lock away billions of tonnes of methane, a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, leading some scientists to describe melting permafrost as a ticking time bomb that could overwhelm efforts to tackle climate change.

...

Paul Palmer, a scientist at Edinburgh University who worked on the new study, said: "High latitude wetlands are currently only a small source of methane but for these emissions to increase by a third in just five years is very significant. It shows that even a relatively small amount of warming can cause a large increase in the amount of methane emissions."

Global warming is occuring twice as fast in the Arctic than anywhere else on Earth. Some regions have already warmed by 2.5C, and temperatures there are projected to increase by more than 10C by 2100 if carbon emissions continue to rise at current rates.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jan/14/arctic-permafrost-methane

[hatrack]

1. Oops!

There must be some emails somewhere out there to which we can attribute this trend.

[phantom power]

2. I'm sure it's mostly about securing grant funding.

[progressoid]

9. It's cyclical!

That's what I always hear on the radio. :banghead:

[Gregorian]

10. Oops.

My first words as well.

Oh dear.

[highplainsdem]

3. K&R. Would someone please give this story a 5th rec? It should be on the Greatest page.

[GliderGuider]

4. Done.

[highplainsdem]

5. Thank you!

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. K&R - I'd say the fact that it's melting means we ran out of time & the bomb is detonating...

Lot of methane coming out of Siberia & arctic ocean...

[tinrobot]

7. The Earth appears to be farting...

...and we're the ones who gave it indigestion.

[madokie]

11. You win

I'm not sure what but you win nevertheless :-)

[tom_paine]

8. But..but...it's cold outside!

:silly:

[Odin2005]

12. Earth Farts?

:scared: