Discover How Warming Wetlands Are Amplifying Methane Emissions and Accelerating Climate Change

Warming in the Arctic is causing a spike in methane emissions, creating a troubling feedback loop that could speed up climate change. This comes from a study released on May 7 in the journal Nature.

Xin (Lindsay) Lan, a climate scientist at CU Boulder, co-authored the research. She’s seen a rapid rise in methane levels in the atmosphere over recent years. Using computer models, Lan and her team found that this increase, particularly since the 1980s, is mainly driven by emissions from wetlands.

Warmer temperatures and increased rainfall have expanded Arctic wetlands by 25%. With more water, the ground thaws, releasing methane from permafrost—soil that has been frozen for a long time. This creates perfect conditions for methane-producing bacteria, leading to even more emissions.

“Our study highlights a potential climate feedback loop involving methane emissions that we might struggle to control,” Lan noted.

The team also discovered that levels of hydroxyl (OH) radicals, which help break down methane in the atmosphere, have grown by 10% since 1984. This suggests that earlier estimates might have missed how much methane is actually emitted and how much is removed from the air.

Historically, methane emissions have fluctuated, reflecting changes in climate. In the past, events like the Little Ice Age saw a drop in methane levels, but current trends show an alarming increase. Scientists are now urging for urgent measures to address these changes.

Recent surveys show that public concern about climate change has surged. For instance, a 2022 poll indicated that around 72% of Americans believe climate change is a serious threat. This growing awareness highlights the importance of research like Lan’s in understanding how feedback loops operate in our climate system.

In summary, the findings underscore the urgent need for monitoring and strategies to manage methane emissions, given their significant role in accelerating climate change.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the original study in Nature.

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Newswise, Climate Change;methane emissions;Environment and Health, University of Colorado Boulder