Changing Planet: Thawing Permafrost and Methane
As the Earth system warms due to rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the high latitude regions of the Earth, which have been in the deep freeze of permafrost for thousands of years, are beginning to thaw out. As the ground thaws, organic matter trapped in the ground decomposes and releases methane - a potent greenhouse gas - into the atmosphere. In addition, melting permafrost damages the infrastructure of communities and facilities at high latitudes, since these were built under the assumption that the ground would remain frozen.
Click on the video at the left to watch the NBC Learn video - Changing Planet: Thawing Permafrost.
Lesson plan: Changing Planet: Permafrost Gas Leak
You might also be interested in:
Energy from the Sun can enter the atmosphere, but not all of it can easily find its way out again. This is a natural process called the greenhouse effect. Without any greenhouse effect, Earth’s temperature
...moreWhen the ground under your feet is frozen, interesting things can happen. The land may be covered with circles, polygons, or stripes, called patterned ground, which form as the land freezes. Trees may
...moreMethane is gas that is found in small quantities in Earth's atmosphere. Methane is the simplest hydrocarbon, consisting of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas.
...moreThis picture shows a part of the Earth surface as seen from the International Space Station high above the Earth. A perspective like this reminds us that there are lots of different things that cover the
...moreThe cryosphere includes the parts of the Earth system where water is in its frozen (solid) form. This includes snow, sea ice, icebergs, ice shelves, glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost soils. Approximately
...moreThe world's surface air temperature increased an average of 0.6° Celsius (1.1°F) during the last century according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This may not sound like very
...moreMany educators are now finding opportunities to teach about Earth's climate and climate change in their classrooms. Windows to the Universe provides an interlinked learning ecosystem to a wealth of resources
...more