Scientists from the University of Alaska at
Fairbanks in the USA have reported that the shallow undersea permafrost
in Siberia, which until recent years was stable, is now noted as
releasing significant amounts of methane, even more than the record
highs from Summer 2008.
According to lead scientist Professor
Igor Semiletov, who is also head of the International Siberian Shelf
Study (ISSS), the region is experiencing the fastest temperature rise of
the planet.
Springtime air is currently measured at an average
of 4 degrees Celsius higher than in the last three decades of the 20th
century. Sudden releases of methane gas are linked to runaway global
warming and are considered a factor in the past mass extinction of
species.
The Alaskan researchers state that if the current
warming conditions continue, the melting of underwater Siberian
permafrost would release catastrophic amounts of methane.
Dr. Sergey Kirpotin – Tomsk University (Quote
in Russian): As more permafrost melts, more greenhouse gases are
released into the atmosphere. It is absolutely evident. We could be
uncertain in quantitative terms, but the fact that this process has a
global character, global importance and global scale is absolutely
evident.
Vladimir Chuprov –
Greenpeace Russia Representative (Quote in Russian):It is
essential to come up with a new international agreement that could
guarantee the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions – the causes of the
global climate change.
Only then could we slow down these
negative processes that take place also in the Russian Arctic. Professor
Semiletov and University of Alaska colleagues, we appreciate this
clarion call about the dire signals being conveyed by our Earth.
May
we all deeply realize the grave nature of climate change and act now to
protect our shared planetary home. As on many occasions, Supreme Master
Ching Hai explained during an October 2009 videoconference in Hong Kong
the urgent situation of methane gas release, while offering the surest
solution.
Supreme
Master Ching Hai: There are massive quantities of gases,
poisonous and explosive, such as under the permafrost. The gas released
then causes more warming, which causes even more gas to be released.
This is like a vicious circle. They even call this vicious feedback
cycle a so-called “climate time bomb.” We are running out of time, we
must wake up soon; we must make a small sacrifice and changes.
I
am hopeful. I’m having a positive feeling that it won’t happen to
Earth, but we all must work; we cannot sit there and wait for a miracle
to happen. God needs us to represent Hirm in compassion, in merciful
heart, in the way we live a godly life, befitting God’s children. If we
all become vegan and live a virtuous, compassionate life, it won’t
happen.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8437703.stm
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