Description

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Context

Study conducted on Vallåkrabreen glacier in Svalbard revealed surprising levels of methane in melt rivers with concentrations up to 800 times higher than atmospheric equilibrium level.

This discovery points to previously overlooked sources of methane emissions offering new insights into how glacier melt contributes to release of this potent greenhouse gas.

Arctic Glaciers

Arctic glaciers are vast ice sheets and glaciers that stretch across Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska & parts of Europe.

These ice masses have acted as critical climate regulators for millennia reflecting sunlight as well as maintaining Earth energy balance.

Glaciers in Arctic are often considered canary in the coal mine for climate change.

As they melt due to rising global temperatures they contribute significantly to sea level rise altering ecosystems & weather patterns worldwide.

Methane Emissions

Methane (CH₄) is a potent greenhouse gas 25 times more effective at trapping heat in atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO₂) over a 100 year period.

It is produced naturally through biological processes & trapped in ice in form of methane hydrates particularly in colder regions like Arctic.

As glaciers and permafrost melt, methane trapped in ancient organic matter from plants, animals and microbes that have been sealed in ice for thousands of years gets released into the atmosphere.

This methane once freed accelerates greenhouse effect leading to more rapid warming in the region.

Recent findings suggest that gigatons of methane could be released from Arctic glaciers and surrounding permafrost as they continue to thaw creating a massive feedback loop that could increase global temperatures by several degrees over the coming decades.

Climate Change and Global Warming

The release of methane from glaciers and permafrost is not just isolated event but it is positive feedback loop.

As temperatures rise glaciers melt methane is released which leads to more warming and even more melting.

This cycle rapidly accelerates global warming making it harder to predict extent and pace of temperature rise.

The emissions of methane exacerbate global warming leading to stronger heatwaves, extreme weather events & ecosystem shifts.

Arctic is warming at ate three times faster than the global average which further destabilizes the entire climate system.

Ozone Depletion

While methane itself doesn't directly harm the ozone layer it has indirect effects.

When methane interacts with other atmospheric compounds it can produce compounds like carbon monoxide & water vapor that break down the ozone in stratosphere.

The ozone layer acts as Earth protective shield against harmful UV radiation & its depletion could lead to an increase in skin cancer rates & damage to marine ecosystems.

Glacial Fracking

Glacial fracking refers to the natural release of methane from beneath glaciers occurring when pressure builds up in methane hydrate deposits within the ice.

As the ice melts due to rising temperatures it allows the methane gas to escape in a process similar to fracking where gas is released from underground reservoirs through the use of pressure.

This process could trigger release of vast quantities of methane from previously stable glacial regions.

The released methane gas when added to the already alarming levels of atmospheric methane amplifies risk of reaching tipping points in climate change.

Global Implications

The discovery of methane emissions from Arctic glaciers highlights previously overlooked & potentially catastrophic source of greenhouse gases.

The unexpected release of methane could add multiple gigatons to global methane emissions worsening the current climate crisis and undermining global efforts to meet climate targets like those outlined in Paris Agreement.

The effect of methane emissions from glaciers could significantly speed up the rate of global warming potentially pushing temperatures to dangerous levels far earlier than anticipated.

This could result in more frequent and severe natural disasters including floods, droughts & wildfires.

Arctic Carbon Cycle

Source: MDPI

Component/Process	Description	Impact on Arctic Environment and Climate
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)	CO₂ in the atmosphere primarily comes from human activities (fossil fuel burning) and natural processes.	As CO₂ concentrations rise, it accelerates global warming, which is especially pronounced in the Arctic.
Carbon Sequestration in Arctic Ecosystems	Carbon is stored in the form of organic matter in Arctic soils, vegetation, and permafrost.	These ecosystems act as carbon sinks, storing large amounts of carbon. However, thawing of permafrost may release this stored carbon.
Permafrost	Ground that remains frozen year-round, trapping carbon in the form of dead plants and animals.	Thawing permafrost releases carbon, primarily as methane (CH₄) and CO₂, which increases greenhouse gas levels.
Vegetation (Terrestrial)	Arctic tundra and forests store carbon in plant biomass and soil.	Vegetation acts as a sink for CO₂, but warming may cause changes in vegetation types, affecting carbon storage.
Marine Carbon	The Arctic Ocean absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere, with carbon fixed in plankton and marine ecosystems.	The ocean’s ability to act as a carbon sink is impacted by rising temperatures, altering ocean circulation and ice coverage.
Oceanic Carbon Sequestration	Phytoplankton in the ocean absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis, and carbon is stored in the deep ocean.	Warming oceans and reduced sea ice limit the capacity of marine ecosystems to sequester carbon, exacerbating climate change.
Methane Release	Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is stored in permafrost and beneath glaciers (methane hydrates).	As Arctic temperatures rise, methane is released from melting permafrost and glaciers, amplifying global warming.
Carbon Cycle Feedback Loops	Positive feedbacks occur when warming leads to more carbon emissions (e.g., thawing permafrost releasing CO₂ and CH₄).	These feedbacks accelerate climate change, leading to faster warming and more carbon release.
Albedo Effect	The reflective quality of ice and snow, which helps cool the Earth by reflecting sunlight.	As ice melts, darker surfaces like water and soil are exposed, absorbing more sunlight and accelerating warming.
Carbon Flux	The exchange of carbon between land, atmosphere, and ocean.	Warming leads to increased carbon flux from land and ocean to the atmosphere reinforcing global warming.

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Arctic Carbon Cycle:

Permafrost serves as a significant carbon sink storing carbon in the form of organic matter and reducing atmospheric CO₂ levels.
The albedo effect in the Arctic amplifies warming by absorbing sunlight due to melting ice leading to a decrease in the Earth overall temperature.
Warming temperatures in the Arctic are accelerating the thawing of permafrost.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: C) 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct. Permafrost in the Arctic does store carbon in the form of organic matter (plant and animal remains). As it remains frozen it helps sequester carbon preventing it from being released into the atmosphere. However thawing permafrost triggered by warming temperatures leads to the release of stored CO₂ and methane thus reversing its role as a carbon sink.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The albedo effect in the Arctic amplifies warming (not cooling). As ice and snow melt darker surfaces like water or land are exposed which absorb more heat from the sun instead of reflecting it leading to increased warming. This process accelerates the melting of ice creating a feedback loop.

Statement 3 is correct. Warming temperatures in the Arctic cause the thawing of permafrost which releases both CO₂ and methane. These gases are potent greenhouse gases that exacerbate global warming contributing to a positive feedback loop.