Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
RAPID THAW OF WORLD'S PERMAFROST COULD RELEASE 'SLEEPING GIANT,' SCIENTISTS WARN
https://www.newsweek.com/rapid-thaw-worlds-permafrost-sleeping-giant-scientist-1411286?amp=1"Current models of greenhouse-gas release and climate assume that permafrost thaws gradually from the surface downwards,” the authors wrote. “Deeper layers of organic matter are exposed over decades or even centuries, and some models are beginning to track these slow changes.”
However, this kind of research, which looks at gradual processes, ignores what is perhaps an even more troubling problem—rapid permafrost collapse. This is when several meters of permafrost soil—which essentially holds the ground together—becomes destabilized within days or weeks, rather than a few inches per year.
Such rapid collapse physically alters landscapes that have taken millions of years to form—in the space of months—through subsidence, flooding and landslides. Sometimes the land can sink, to be inundated with swelling lakes and wetlands. Scientists have even observed hillsides essentially liquefying.
However, this kind of research, which looks at gradual processes, ignores what is perhaps an even more troubling problem—rapid permafrost collapse. This is when several meters of permafrost soil—which essentially holds the ground together—becomes destabilized within days or weeks, rather than a few inches per year.
Such rapid collapse physically alters landscapes that have taken millions of years to form—in the space of months—through subsidence, flooding and landslides. Sometimes the land can sink, to be inundated with swelling lakes and wetlands. Scientists have even observed hillsides essentially liquefying.
Looks like the methane gun hypothesis isn't quite done with us yet.
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
