Rapidly Melting Arctic Sea Ice Threatens Permafrost
A recent study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Snow and Ice Data Center found that in periods of rapid sea ice retreat, Arctic land temperatures can increase at a rate triple the average warming rate estimated in global climate models.
The study’s lead author, David Lawrence of NCAR, is quoted as saying that this study "…suggests that, if sea-ice continues to contract rapidly over the next several years, Arctic land warming and permafrost thaw are likely to accelerate."
Arctic permafrost and soils contain at least 30 percent of the carbon stored in soils worldwide. The acceleration of thawing of Arctic permafrost has the potential to significantly increase the emissions of greenhouse gases released when permafrost thaws.
This is a dangerous feedback loop we can’t afford to let happen.
I think it is unfortunate that politics overcome nature.
Scientific statistics do show that there are changes in the world. Yes, I agree that during an interglacial period the earth warms up. But the planet has not been exposed to so much carbon since possibly the Permian/Triassic.
The technology is out there to be less dependent on petroleum. and yet nothing is being done.
Plastic is a very bad pollutant.
yet everyone continues to use it (myself included) instead of finding a more convenient source (you can make bottles out of corn, that will biodegrade in a certain number of days.)
I have complete faith in humanity, and I think in time we will advance in our technology.
Have a better supporting government, and be more clean and self conscious consumers.
I just feel bad for the animals that pay the price for our luxuries, it is heartbreaking.
-Adda
Posted by: Adda Nanook | August 01, 2008 at 10:13 AM