Permafrost melting may increase global warming

Carbon that has been locked away for thousands of years could escape into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide if global warming thaws large patches of frozen ground in Alaska and Siberia, a new study warns.

This permafrost or the frozen ground contains large amounts of carbon-rich grass and animal bones.

The new study looked at the effects of global warming on permafrost in Siberia, called “yedoma.”

The researchers estimate that if global warming continues at its current pace, about 90 percent of the carbon in yedoma permafrost could be released. Most of it would go into the atmosphere as either carbon dioxide or methane, the researchers say.

The study, led by Sergey Zimov from the Russian Academy of Sciences, is in the July 15 issue of the journal Science.

The study notes that about the same amount of carbon is locked away in other permafrost areas around the world, and that global warming could have similar effects on these areas as well.