Siberia - the global warming ‘tipping point’

The Guardian newspaper has an alarming special report, complete with huge picture on its front page, about how global warming is affecting Siberia.  Badly, is their conclusion.  And, as the permafrost in Siberia will melt extremely rapidly once the process is begun, this could have dramatic and negative consequences for the rest of the world:

The area, which covers the entire sub-Arctic region of western Siberia, is the world’s largest frozen peat bog and scientists fear that as it thaws, it will release billions of tonnes of methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.

It is a scenario climate scientists have feared since first identifying "tipping points" - delicate thresholds where a slight rise in the Earth’s temperature can cause a dramatic change in the environment that itself triggers a far greater increase in global temperatures.

[…] The researchers found that what was until recently a barren expanse of frozen peat is turning into a broken landscape of mud and lakes, some more than a kilometre across.

Dr Kirpotin told the magazine the situation was an "ecological landslide that is probably irreversible and is undoubtedly connected to climatic warming". He added that the thaw had probably begun in the past three or four years.

More on the peat bogs here.

Tagged as: Siberia