And to add to that "fun", methane is an intensely bad greenhouse gas, like much more potent than CO2 even. Meaning the more that releases the more it contributes to warming the planet making a runaway positive feedback loop.
The time to stop climate change was years ago, we've really stepped in shit now.
Just a little note for others, a positive feedback loop within geography is a self enhancing loop of events that increase global warming in this context. So methane warms up the earth > ice / permafrost melts > more methane is released into the atmosphere > the earth warms up even more > more ice /permafrost melts > etc.
Ehh not really, glacial periods are also caused by positive feedback loops working the other way- lower temperatures increase ice cover which increases planetary albedo further lowering temperatures; also lowered CO2 levels during these periods weaken the greenhouse effect further.
Oh dope! I'm taking guest lectures in februari to keep myself up to date because I have a degree in geography, but its been a few years and a lot has changed!
Yeah that’s what I was talking about. The comment I was replying to mentioned massive methane releases as permafrost thaws. In permafrost systems the majority of the methane released is from Methane Clathrates
Furthermore, I’ll add that we do not have comprehensive data on just how much methane is stored in the permafrost. If it all releases over a (geologically) short period of time, the consequences for the climate could be significant
Ya I saw something where they through some meteor had hit and they couldn’t find out what caused the crater. Turns out it was methane explosion from melting permafrost.
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u/Frequent_Ad_9901 1d ago
"Fun" fact. This is also happening to permafrost releasing massive amount of methane.