Home

Arctic/Antarctica

Exclusive: The Methane Time Bomb

Preliminary findings suggest that massive deposits of subsea methane are bubbling to the surface as the Arctic region becomes warmer and its ice retreats. (Photo: Alamy)

The first evidence that millions of tons of a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere from beneath the Arctic seabed has been discovered by scientists.

The Independent has been passed details of preliminary findings suggesting that massive deposits of sub-sea methane are bubbling to the surface as the Arctic region becomes warmer and its ice retreats.

Posted in Environment, Arctic/Antarctica, Climate Change

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2008
3:14 PM

CONTACT: Center for Biological Diversity
Kassie Siegel, Center for Biological Diversity,
(760) 366-2232 x302; (951) 961-7972,
ksiegel@biologicaldiversity.org

Statement by Center for Biological Diversity on 2008 Arctic Sea Ice Minimum

Second Lowest Level Ever Recorded Is Yet Another Wake-Up Call

BOULDER, Colo. - September 16 - The National Snow and Ice Data Center reported today that the Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its lowest level of the year. At 1.74 million square miles, the 2008 sea ice extent is the second lowest ever recorded and 860,000 square miles below the average minimum sea ice extent between 1979-2000, representing a loss of 33 percent of the ice pack - an area of ice larger than Alaska, Texas, and West Virginia combined.

###
Posted in Environment, Arctic/Antarctica, Climate Change
Syndicate content