The Arctic Is Leaking Methane

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."

Comments

Re:1 teragram is not 1.1million tons

[Inda]

We call that "6 mil" pipe here. It's not hard. In fact, I'd even go as far as saying that's it's quicker and easier to say. Suits you Yanks down to the ground.

The global warming advocate's wet dream

[ffreeloader]

What is it? Ice caps cause global warming. The coldest part of the world is now responsible for the earth getting warmer.

It's ironic how all of these natural sources of methane/CO2 have existed for thousands of years before industrialization or we had anyone telling us that global warming existed, but now all these naturally occurring phenomenons are serious problems which are destroying earth's climate.

Sorry, but I call bullshit. If all these naturally occurring phenomena are responsible for negative changes in earth's climate the earth would have become inhabitable long ago.