Arctic permafrost is melting faster than predicted

 

 

 

 

Michael , Slezak. "Arctic permafrost is melting faster than predicted - environment - 28 November 2012 - New Scientist." Science news and science jobs from New Scientist - New Scientist. N.p., 28 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22549-arctic-permafrost-is-melting-faster-than-predicted.html>.

This article by Michael Slezak described how the earth’s permafrost is melting at a very fast rate, and when it melts it will release tons of harmful greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. Permafrost is frozen soil that covers about a quarter of the northern hemisphere and traps vast amounts of carbon. Both methane gas and carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere when the permafrost melts. Methane gas is twenty five times more powerful than carbon dioxide in a course of 100 years. A team of NASA researchers have been studying the permafrost and the greenhouse gases that will be emitted. Currently there is no large release of these gases, but they are leaking out of the permafrost slowly. The equipment will also warn them if there is a big change within the permafrost and the gases are released. The article says there is about 1700 billion tonnes of carbon locked under the permafrost. It can be released either as methane or carbon dioxide. If there is a large thaw, they say that the region will become warmer and drier.

My reaction to this article is that I am very nervous for our environment. If the permafrost melts and releases all the harmful gases it can cause a lot of problems for a lot of people. I know I would not want to be living in northern Russia and be exposed to an abundance of methane or carbon dioxide. It could affect many types of wildlife and the eco system in general!