If released, what is described as a “time bomb” made of methane could have extremely negative impacts on Earth’s environment.
According to SciTech Daily, scientists in the Svalbard archipelago in northern Norway have discovered a massive layer of methane migrating beneath this land, posing a significant threat to Earth’s climate.
And it may have many “companions.”
Beneath the permafrost of the icy archipelago, a methane “time bomb” threatens Earth – (Image: SCITECH DAILY)
In a study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Earth Science, Dr. Thomas Birchall from the Svalbard Centre University noted that the current leakage level of methane from beneath the permafrost is low, however, the melting ice could “elevate the issue in the future.”
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. The methane layer beneath Svalbard is described as a “time bomb” because if it is released in large quantities, it could immediately intensify the current climate crisis.
There are many factors indicating that this threat is quite near.
The permafrost in the northern Norwegian archipelago is uneven. The western part of Svalbard is warmer due to marine currents, resulting in thinner permafrost. Ice in higher regions is drier and more permeable, while ice in lower areas has higher ice saturation.
However, due to geographical characteristics, some areas with thick and continuous ice also indicate that it could cause the “bomb” beneath to leak.
The research team investigated the state of this methane layer under the ice through 18 exploratory wells, some of which revealed the accumulation of methane, indicating that the presence of methane beneath the archipelago is quite common and significant.
If the permafrost continues to thin out and become mottled due to climate change, this methane could move vigorously and find its way out, accelerating global warming.
Additionally, Svalbard’s geological and glacial history is very similar to the rest of the Arctic, suggesting that these “migrating” methane deposits could also be present in other Arctic locations.
This research follows several previous studies on methane “time bombs” in icy regions. This methane source originates from ancient sediments, including remains of plants and animals during Earth’s extreme climate cycles, when those lands were ice-free.
Over millions of years, this methane has been locked in by permafrost, in other words, the permafrost has helped balance, preventing it from mixing with greenhouse gases produced by humans.
Thus, the gradual loss of permafrost on Earth will not only be a consequence of climate change but could conversely exacerbate climate change.
