Thawing tundra emits greenhouse gases

Global warming is causing millions of square meters of tundra to melt from permafrost into marshland. Scientists are finding that new wetlands are emit methane gas and carbon dioxide which are acceleration of global warming.



At Stordalen Mire in Northern Sweden, scientists are discovering that the amount of wetlands have increased by 50% due to the melting of permafrost in the tundra due to global warming. Research shows that methane emissions seem to be released as the tundra melts, causing more greenhouse gases and greater atmospheric warming.


In Siberia, the peat tundra covers over 1 million square miles, and is also showing signs of thawing. Tons of methane is thought to be entering our atmosphere because of global warming.


How much, and how rapidly, the thawing of the Siberian peat bog affects global warming depends on whether or not it dries out as it thaws. If it dries, then the primary gas will be carbon dioxide. If it does not dry, then tons of methane will be released. Methane is twenty times more potent as a global warming gas than carbon dioxide.


See full storey: http://www.gocarbonfree.com/global_warming/climate_change_research/tundra_emits_methane.html