A vast expanse of western Siberia is undergoing an unprecedented thaw that could dramatically increase the rate of global warming, climate scientists warn today.
Researchers who have recently returned from the region found that an area of permafrost spanning a million square kilometres – the size of France and Germany combined – has started to melt for the first time since it formed 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age.
The area, which covers the entire sub-Arctic region of western Siberia, is the world’s largest frozen peat bog and scientists fear that as it thaws, it will release billions of tonnes of methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.
I’d think about running away and hiding. But there’s nowhere to go.
But isn’t methane also a good fuel. Shouldn’t people be looking at this as an opportunity for grabbing some ‘free’ energy.Maybe the practicalities of harvesting it are too expensive, and I’m no expert on whether burning it is any better than letting it leak into the atmosphere anyway, but I’m surprised the article doesn’t try to think of any positive aspects. It’s all doom and gloom.