Thawing Arctic permafrost releases ancient methane
Thawing Arctic permafrost unleashes methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, creating a dangerous cycle that speeds up global warming and challenges climate efforts.
The Arctic's permanently frozen ground, called permafrost, is thawing as global temperatures rise. This frozen soil holds vast amounts of ancient organic matter, including methane, a potent greenhouse gas 28 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a century. As the permafrost melts, microbes break down this material, releasing methane into the atmosphere. This creates a dangerous cycle: more warming causes more thawing, which releases more methane, further intensifying global warming. Scientists have observed this acceleration since the late 20th century, with Arctic temperatures rising nearly twice the global average. This feedback loop makes stabilizing our climate much harder.