Methane Feedback Loop Beyond Humans' Ability to Control May Have Begun--NOAA

[NickB79]

https://www.newsweek.com/methane-feedback-loop-beyond-humans-ability-control-may-have-begun-1697512

Xin Lan, a research scientist at the NOAA, told Newsweek that after 2006, the majority of methane emissions produced were caused by natural wetlands and man-made emissions. Natural wetlands produce methane when organic matter decays , while and man-made emissions are caused by livestock, waste and landfills.

It is difficult for scientists to determine which emissions come from which source. However, natural methane production is accelerated by rain and varying temperatures, which climate change is already causing.

Lan said that because the Earth's climate is already warming the methane produced from natural wetlands is only set to increase. This signals the beginning of a feedback loop—an ongoing cycle that cannot be broken.

"From natural processes, we know that wetland methane emissions are sensitive to change in precipitation and temperature," she said. "Methane production from microbes increases with increases in global temperature which is driven by long-term greenhouse gas emissions. More atmospheric methane, in turn, can further warm up the earth. That's the feedback loop we are referring to."

Funny, I was just joking with my daughter at the Minnesota Science Museum a week ago, where we were looking at the fossil exhibit of the late Paleocene/early Eocene of North Dakota, 55 million years ago, the last time we had a massive carbon spike in the atmosphere similar to today. It was basically a northern version of Louisiana at the time, complete with crocodiles and cypress swamps. I said "look, it's your future in 50 years!" She was less than amused.

[femmedem]

1. The worst possible news

and something I'd been anticipating, given the methane emissions that have already been documented in the Arctic.

I admit that I was hoping I was old enough to never see this even as I tamped down panic for today's youth.

[NickB79]

3. Yeah, it's pretty brutal

My daughter is 12. I've told her, under NO conditions, do you move any further south than Minnesota as an adult. Stay near the Great Lakes.

[femmedem]

5. Good advice.

I live in a coastal city in Connecticut so hurricanes and sea-level rise will increasingly be a threat. And even though our summer temperatures aren't nearly as high as in other parts of the country, our summer humidity is high. Temperatures that would already be typical for a summer day in the Southwest will be life-threatening here.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

2. Looks like

Humanity very well might die of disasters and heat death among many other athings climate change will bring.. This is awful.

I hope I dont live a long life.

[Takket]

4. methane is 25 times more potent then CO2 as a global warming agent

so..................... not good.