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Permafrost Thawing To Accelerate Global Warming, Increase Carbon Levels 5 Times
http://www.hngn.com/articles/28371/20140408/permafrost-thawing-to-accelerate-global-warming-increase-carbon-levels-5-times.htmNew research suggests thawing permafrost is releasing dangerous greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which could accelerate global warming.
"We've known for a while now that permafrost is thawing," Suzanne Hodgkins, the lead author on the paper and a doctoral student in chemical oceanography at Florida State University, said in a news release. "But what we've found is that the associated changes in plant community composition in the polar regions could lead to way more carbon being released into the atmosphere as methane."
"We've known for a while now that permafrost is thawing," Suzanne Hodgkins, the lead author on the paper and a doctoral student in chemical oceanography at Florida State University, said in a news release. "But what we've found is that the associated changes in plant community composition in the polar regions could lead to way more carbon being released into the atmosphere as methane."
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When the permafrost thaws it breaks down plant life, which is responsible for the release of the methane. The researchers have estimated that if the permafrost breaks down entirely there will be five times the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere than there is today.