September 16, 2019
Methane is a particularly potent greenhouse gas, and trillions of tons of methane are trapped in what we used to call “permafrost” in the Arctic.
Unfortunately, as the planet heats up, the “permafrost” is not so permanent.
And as the permafrost melts, it releases methane, which contributes to global warming, which heats the planet, which, in turn, results in the release of more methane, and on and on. It is a death spiral.
And I am afraid we are now in the death spiral.
This graphic from science advocate Randall Gates shows methane levels spiking at the Barrows Atmospheric Baseline Observatory this year:
