Permafrost Thaw and Methane Release

By Kayla Lee

Permafrost is any type of soil or underwater sediment that has been frozen continuously for a minimum of two years, remaining below 0°C. This frozen ground contains large amounts of organic material as plants and animals that died long ago became buried under layers of soil. Permafrost is often found in Arctic regions such as Greenland, and the U.S. state of Alaska, Russia, China, and Eastern Europe. Scientists estimate that it holds around 1,500 billion tons of carbon, roughly twice the amount current in the Earth’s atmosphere. Even a small fraction escaping as methane could have a significant impact on global climate patterns.

As global temperatures rise due to climate change, permafrost is beginning to thaw, which is causing significant environmental concerns. When permafrost thaws, the organic material trapped inside begins to decompose. The organic material that was once locked in the frozen ground becomes exposed to air and begins to decompose. This decomposition process, facilitated by bacteria and microbes, releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and thane into the atmosphere.

Methane is about 25 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 100-year period than carbon dioxide, which becomes a potent contributor to global warming. When permafrost thaws, pockets of methane that were previously tapped in the frozen ground can escape and lead to a sharp increase in methane emissions. The release of methane can amplify the effects of climate change and accelerate the warming of the planet.

Global warming due to methane could lead to more extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems. In addition, permafrost thaw can cause infrastructural damage in regions built on frozen ground. Buildings, roads, and pipelines in places like Alaska and Siberia are already showing signs of sinking and cracking as the ground becomes unstable.

Works Cited

Pare, Sascha. “Sea of Methane Sealed beneath Arctic Permafrost Could Trigger Climate Feedback Loop If It Escapes.” Space.Com, Space, 31 Dec. 2023, www.space.com/methane-beneath-arctic-permafrost-climate-feedback-loop. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

“Permafrost Eurasia.” Permafrost Eurasia | Data Basin, databasin.org/maps/67aa71c3f8224b59bca73abb6c5d3d36/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.

Shankman, Sabrina. “Thawing Arctic Permafrost Hides a Toxic Risk: Mercury, in Massive Amounts.” Inside Climate News, 30 Nov. 2020, insideclimatenews.org/news/06022018/thawing-arctic-permafrost-mercury-neurotoxin-health-risk-hunters-fisheries-climate-change/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2024.