If confirmed, this could be very, very bad news:
The first evidence that millions of tons of a greenhouse gas 20 times
more potent than carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere
from beneath the Arctic seabed has been discovered by scientists. . .
In the past few days, the researchers have seen areas of sea foaming with gas bubbling up through "methane chimneys" rising from the sea floor. They believe that the sub-sea layer of permafrost, which has acted like a "lid" to prevent the gas from escaping, has melted away to allow methane to rise from underground deposits formed before the last ice age.
In the past few days, the researchers have seen areas of sea foaming with gas bubbling up through "methane chimneys" rising from the sea floor. They believe that the sub-sea layer of permafrost, which has acted like a "lid" to prevent the gas from escaping, has melted away to allow methane to rise from underground deposits formed before the last ice age.
I'm finding it difficult, as have others, to comment on this report without sounding hyperbolic or apocalyptic. While I certainly hope to be wrong, this feels like it might be the beginning of the end of any chance we once had to avert the worst dangers of climate chaos by taking limited action now.
It may just be too late already.
Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die?
Posted by: Svein Ove | September 24, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Time to invest in Canadian natural gas?
Posted by: jinsei | October 24, 2008 at 09:29 PM