The Arctic Is Leaking Methane

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The Arctic Is Leaking Methane

Posted by kdawson on Friday March 5, 2010 @01:53AM from the thar-she-blows dept.

registerShift and other readers sent in news that the Arctic Ocean seabed is leaking methane. "...climate experts familiar with the new research reported in Friday's issue of the journal Science that even though it does not suggest imminent climate catastrophe, it is important because of methane's role as a greenhouse gas. Although carbon dioxide is far more abundant and persistent in the atmosphere, ton for ton atmospheric methane traps at least 25 times as much heat. ... [One scientist] estimated that annual methane emissions from the East Siberian Arctic Shelf total about seven teragrams. (A teragram is 1.1 million tons.) By some estimates, global methane emissions total about 500 teragrams a year. ...about 40 percent is natural, including the decomposition of organic materials in wetlands and frozen wetlands like permafrost."

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That explains the smell... by epdp14 · 2010-03-05 02:00 · Score: 1, Funny

It wasn't the Russians after all.
1. Re:That explains the smell... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-03-05 02:08 · Score: 0, Funny
  
  It wasn't the Russians after all.
  Nope. It's the 'ole blame the cat or dog routine - only using an entire global area.
  You see, when you really have to let one go, you wait for the dog or cat to walk in and everyone assumes it's the animal. Worked for me last night. Yogurt, fresh greens, chili, and being 45 years old (stinky old man farts) and Pee U! My wife looks down at the cat and asks "Did you change her diet again. Geeze she stinks!"
  It's very important to have pets when you're old and gassy - it prevents much embarrassment. I may have to sell that idea to PETA. Have some naked hot chick with a clothes pin on her nose, an old guy, and an animal with a caption:
  "Save a cute furry animal and save your pride!"
For those of us wondering... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-03-05 02:06 · Score: 1, Funny

"A teragram is 1.1 million tons."
This is US (short) tons. Of course it is simply 1 million (metric, real) tons.
Let the unit war begin! Soon we will have passenger jets and mars probes crashing left and right.
Chuck by Anonymous Coward · 2010-03-05 02:09 · Score: 4, Funny

Man, it's just a shame global warming isn't real. Then this story may actually have some relevance.
This will NOT stand!! by navygeek · 2010-03-05 02:10 · Score: 4, Funny

Quick! Someone make an impassioned plea to the U.N. to write a strongly worded letter informing the Arctic that its actions are unacceptable and intolerable. We must not abide this clear violation of greenhouse gas limitation policy. Please, be sure the letter is *strongly worded*!!!
Let me get this straight by kiick · 2010-03-05 02:10 · Score: 5, Funny

The ice cap is farting?
1. Re:Let me get this straight by McNihil · 2010-03-05 02:40 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Not only that, it is doing it in our general direction!
2. Re:Let me get this straight by Wiarumas · 2010-03-05 03:00 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Yes, the ice cap is farting. Slowly, silent, and deadly. Isn't there a slang word that can be turned into a buzzword for that? Ah, yes: silent but deadly. It should make its way into white papers soon.
  
  --
  I will bend like a reed in the wind.
Re:Fuel? by ItsJustAPseudonym · 2010-03-05 02:10 · Score: 5, Funny

"Hey Elsie, pull my hoof. Moo."
US tons are lighter than the rest of the world by YA_Python_dev · 2010-03-05 02:12 · Score: 5, Funny

1 teragram is exactly 1 milion metric tons, but it's also approximately 1.1 million funny American tons.

--
There's a hidden treasure in Python 3.x: __prepare__()
1. Re:US tons are lighter than the rest of the world by Anonymous Coward · 2010-03-05 02:19 · Score: 0, Funny
  
  You can take your big fat british tonnes and shove them. USA USA USA!
2. Re:US tons are lighter than the rest of the world by roman_mir · 2010-03-05 03:02 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Or in more US friendly units, it's 22 your mommas.
  
  --
  You can't handle the truth.
3. Re:US tons are lighter than the rest of the world by tgd · 2010-03-05 04:26 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Ask yo momma, she's seen my furlong.
It's from the under ocean citys by Joe+The+Dragon · 2010-03-05 02:16 · Score: 2, Funny

It's from the under ocean citys
1. Re:It's from the under ocean citys by Hurricane78 · 2010-03-05 03:07 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Poseidon? Cthulhu need so lay off his Poseidon Masala! ^^
  
  --
  Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
Who farted??? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-03-05 02:23 · Score: 1, Funny

Mother Earth!!! *shocked look* *holds nose in disgust*
Factoid: My captcha is "intimacy" - not something normally associated with passing gas.
Re:Let It Burn! by agw · 2010-03-05 02:30 · Score: 4, Funny

Forgot to mention that nuking the arctic is the only solution to this most trying problem.
Right. Do it from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
Re:1 teragram is not 1.1million tons by imakemusic · 2010-03-05 02:36 · Score: 1, Funny

You might say the journalism was hella lame.

--
Brain surgery - it's not rocket science!
Re:Let It Burn! by PopeRatzo · 2010-03-05 02:59 · Score: 3, Funny

Forgot to mention that nuking the arctic is the only solution to this most trying problem.
Clearly the arctic is in on conspiracy to try to make it seem like the earth is warming.
It's well-known that the Earth itself has a liberal bias.

--
You are welcome on my lawn.
Re:1 teragram is not 1.1million tons by OakDragon · 2010-03-05 03:16 · Score: 4, Funny

You know what's funny - if the story were about metric vs. U.S. vs. Imperial measurements, the conversation would devolve into a global warming flame-fest.

--
Dark Reflection
Re:1 teragram is not 1.1million tons by maxwell+demon · 2010-03-05 03:46 · Score: 2, Funny

I would certainly rather have a tone of British ail then a ton of American light beer
You like to listen to suffering Brits, and afterwards get drunk with American beer? Pervert! :-)

--
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
Re:1 teragram is not 1.1million tons by Anonymous Coward · 2010-03-05 04:50 · Score: 1, Funny

Imperial may be standard in the USA, but not in America.

Well... it's standard in the significant part of America.
Re:Fuel? by pugugly · 2010-03-05 05:45 · Score: 2, Funny

Feed them Bubblegum?

--
An Invisible Entity of Vast Power whose existence must be taken on faith alone: Liberal Media