Mysterious craters blowing out of Russia could mean trouble for the whole planet

[mfcorey1]

The Russian province's long-frozen ground, called permafrost, is thawing, triggering massive changes to the region's landscape and ecology. It could even threaten human lives.

"The last time we saw a permafrost melting was 130,000 years ago. It's a natural phenomenon because of changes in the earth's orbit," said professor of earth sciences at the University of Oxford, Dr. Gideon Henderson.

"But what is definitely unprecedented is the rate of warming. The warming that happened 130,000 years ago happened over thousands of years … What we see happening now is warming over decades or a century."

The formation of these crater-like holes could have crucial ramifications for Siberia's community and the environment at large.

One theory suggests that the holes are created when trapped gases explode. Carbon dioxide and methane, both greenhouse gases, are released in the process.

According to conventional estimates, methane warms the planet by 34 times as much as carbon dioxide over 100 years. But such estimates ignore the fact that atmospheric methane decomposes into carbon dioxide, a less potent greenhouse gas, after 10 to 20 years.

Over a 20-year period, methane's warming potential is 86 times that of carbon dioxide, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

It's still a question if the formation of these craters contributes significant amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, researchers say.

"There is no estimate for how much methane is released into the atmosphere because we don't know how" such craters are formed, Romanovsky said.

According to Henderson, scientists are also uncertain about the rate and types of gases ejected – specifically, whether methane decomposes into carbon dioxide before or after its release.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mysterious-craters-blowing-out-of-russia-could-mean-trouble-for-the-whole-planet/ar-AAp8jkG?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=mailsignout

[Warpy]

1. Damned right. If the Siberian permafrost goes,

the temperature will skyrocket and what's left is going to have to figure out how to breathe methane if it wants to live on land.

Our beautiful blue planet with its oxygen/nitrogen atmosphere, it was nice while it lasted.

[snowy owl]

3. What he said.

[BigmanPigman]

2. I had a discussion about this with a friend about a week ago

and we also discussed over population and we agreed how serious this is as well as how we can't do much now since it's too late in many aspects. I was feeling great that someone was understanding the severity of the situation. She said that families shouldn't be having 5 kids, etc knowing these facts and I naturally agreed. Then she goes on to tell me I need to see her newest grandchild (her daughter is also my friend and so far has 3 kids by choice). I do not get it...how many kids is too many? Didn't she realize the hypocrisy? I have to pat myself on the back for not letting her have it. It's so frustrating!

[snowy owl]

4. When people respond like that, they're thinking China, India ...

That's the hubris of Americans.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Yeah, or maybe they're reading the actual fertility data.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Wow, you mean you couldn't get her to condemn the very existence of her own grandchild? Tsk.

Hey, good for you for not letting grandma "have it" over the brand new baby in her own family!

Impressive self-control you've got. You're a real friend!

[burrowowl]

7. I hope there is hope

but it doesn't look like it.