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Melting of the Arctic Permafrost. By: Melissa R. What is the issue?. The permafrost is melting Greenhouse gases: Methane and Carbon are being released Methane and carbon traps the heat in our atmosphere. How does the issue relate to weather?. The weather will be warmer
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Melting of the Arctic Permafrost By: Melissa R
What is the issue? • The permafrost is melting • Greenhouse gases: Methane and Carbon are being released • Methane and carbon traps the heat in our atmosphere
How does the issue relate to weather? • The weather will be warmer • The temperature of the summer will increase
How does this issue relate to climate change? • As carbon dioxide is being released, it is heating up the earth more • The atmosphere is warming up; therefore melting more permafrost • Dangerous cycle
What is the evidence that this issue exists? • The amount of Carbon in our atmosphere has doubled since the dawn of the industrial age • Scientists researching the Siberian Lakes
The relevant chemistry concepts involved. • Methane is a greenhouse gas that has 20 to 25 times more warming power than carbon dioxide • Formed in cold temperatures and under high pressures conditions • Methane has about 7.5 to 400 billion tons of carbon-equivalent • Methane molecule:
Who or what does the issue affect the most and how? • The earth’s atmosphere • The plants and animals in northern lands • Humans will not bet able to survive in very hot temperatures
Why should we care about this issue? • The earth atmosphere will warm up too much • Scientists realized that the melting of arctic permafrost is a serious situation that they need to consider
What can we do about this issue? • STOP using/burning fossil fuels • Try to plant more trees
Citations: • Borenstein, Seth. "Study: Thawing Permafrost Will Worsen Global Warming." USA Today. Gannett, 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 25 May 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/story/2011-11-30/warming-permafrost-climate-change-global-warming/51512986/1>. • Gillis, Justin. "Popping the Cap on Arctic Methane." Green Blog. 21 May 2012. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/popping-the-cap-on-arctic-methane/>. • Gillis, Justin. "TEMPERATURE RISING; As Permafrost Thaws, Scientists Study the Risks." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Dec. 2011. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/science/earth/warming-arctic-permafrost-fuels-climate-change-worries.html?_r=1>. • "Permafrost In a Warming World." Melting Permafrost. Web. 25 May 2012. <http://www.wunderground.com/resources/climate/melting_permafrost.asp>. • "Service Interruption." NSIDC Press Room: Thawing Permafrost Will Accelerate Global Warming in Decades to Come, Says New Study. 16 Feb. 2011. Web. 30 May 2012. <http://nsidc.org/news/press/20110216_permafrost.html>. • "What YOU Can Do for Your Children's Sake." Planet Extinction. Web. 03 June 2012. <http://www.planetextinction.com/planet_extinction_you.htm>.