We could be 16 years into a methane-fueled 'termination' event significant enough to end an ice age

[We Never Know]

Not one mention of blaming cow farts lol

We could be 16 years into a methane-fueled 'termination' event significant enough to end an ice age

"A dramatic spike in atmospheric methane over the past 16 years may be a sign that Earth's climate could flip within decades, scientists have warned.

Large amounts of methane wafting from tropical wetlands into Earth's atmosphere could trigger warming similar to the "termination" events that ended ice ages, replacing frosty expanses of tundra with tropical savanna, a new study finds. Researchers first detected a strange peak in methane emissions in 2006, but until now, it was unclear where the gas was leaking from and if it constituted a novel trend.

"A termination is a major reorganization of the Earth's climate system," study lead author Euan Nisbet, a professor emeritus of Earth sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, told Live Science. "These repeated changes have taken the world from ice ages into the sort of interglacial we have now."

Ice age terminations typically occur in three phases, which are recorded in ice cores going back 800,000 years. The initial phase is characterized by a gradual rise in methane and CO2, leading to global warming over a few thousand years. This is followed by a sharp increase in temperatures fueled by a burst of methane, leveling off in a third phase lasting several thousand years."

MSN

 

[Heyo]

Not one mention of blaming cow farts lol

Cow farts (or more precisely burps) are small change compared to the vast amounts of methane stored in permafrost soil and methane hydrates in all the oceans.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Hmm . . . tropical. So you are saying that we should nuke Brazil. Shhh!! Don't tell @LuisDantas then.

Seriously I hope this is not the case because if it is we are in for a very very rocky time. This summer's heat wave will have been only the beginning.

 

[Viker]

If you live near large bodies of water..... better get a boat. Live near the tropics? Get a gas mask too.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Not one mention of blaming cow farts lol

We could be 16 years into a methane-fueled 'termination' event significant enough to end an ice age

"A dramatic spike in atmospheric methane over the past 16 years may be a sign that Earth's climate could flip within decades, scientists have warned.

Large amounts of methane wafting from tropical wetlands into Earth's atmosphere could trigger warming similar to the "termination" events that ended ice ages, replacing frosty expanses of tundra with tropical savanna, a new study finds. Researchers first detected a strange peak in methane emissions in 2006, but until now, it was unclear where the gas was leaking from and if it constituted a novel trend.

"A termination is a major reorganization of the Earth's climate system," study lead author Euan Nisbet, a professor emeritus of Earth sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, told Live Science. "These repeated changes have taken the world from ice ages into the sort of interglacial we have now."

Ice age terminations typically occur in three phases, which are recorded in ice cores going back 800,000 years. The initial phase is characterized by a gradual rise in methane and CO2, leading to global warming over a few thousand years. This is followed by a sharp increase in temperatures fueled by a burst of methane, leveling off in a third phase lasting several thousand years."

MSN

I'm sure I'll be long dead by the time that happens.

Interesting though.

 

[We Never Know]

Cow farts (or more precisely burps) are small change compared to the vast amounts of methane stored in permafrost soil and methane hydrates in all the oceans.

Exactly. But people talk about how the cows are harming things, not about the amounts of methane stored in permafrost soil and methane hydrates in all the oceans.

 

[LuisDantas]

I'm sure I'll be long dead by the time that happens.

Interesting though.

That is an odd certainty to have.

 

[Heyo]

Exactly. But people talk about how the cows are harming things, not about the amounts of methane stored in permafrost soil and methane hydrates in all the oceans.

Well, the hydrates are save for now and will only be released when the global temperature reaches a certain threshold.
The cows and more so the fossil fuels are what will bring us to that threshold - and those are things we can manage. Once the tipping point is reached, there is nothing we can do on this side of sci-fi style terraforming.

 

[Heyo]

That is an odd certainty to have.

It is the (secret) reason for most of the climate change deniers over 50.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Exactly. But people talk about how the cows are harming things, not about the amounts of methane stored in permafrost soil and methane hydrates in all the oceans.

Cattle are a significant part of the changes occurring now. We really really really want to avoid the sort of changes in that article. There would not be a a lot that we could do to change them.

In other words we want to change our behaviors that a going on right now that could trigger such an event. One paper is not enough to get excited about something in the world of science. There is a good chance that the author is wrong. The time to get worried is when others check out his work and confirm it. Then you can begin to worry.

 

[Heyo]

Cattle are a significant part of the changes occurring now. We really really really want to avoid the sort of changes in that article. There would not be a a lot that we could do to change them.

In other words we want to change our behaviors that a going on right now that could trigger such an event. One paper is not enough to get excited about something in the world of science. There is a good chance that the author is wrong. The time to get worried is when others check out his work and confirm it. Then you can begin to worry.

The paper isn't the first to point out the dangers of stored methane, it's a well known fact. New is only that the tipping point may be nearer than previously assumed.

 

[fantome profane]

There are two things that we need to understand about methane. On is that it is a more dangerous greenhouse gas than CO2, but the other thing you need to understand is that it only stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years.

So things are going to continue to get hotter, ice is going to continue to melt, sea levels are going to rise, more and more areas of the earth are going to become too hot for people to work outside, agricultural workers will die, construction workers will die, it is gonna be bad.

But there is hope the human race might still come out the other side.

 

[Subduction Zone]

The paper isn't the first to point out the dangers of stored methane, it's a well known fact. New is only that the tipping point may be nearer than previously assumed.

I know that there are other sources of methane. And I was trying to explain how we want to avoid that tipping point. If we get past the tipping point then measures or not we are in trouble. I am still holding out hope.

 

[Subduction Zone]

There are two things that we need to understand about methane. On is that it is a more dangerous greenhouse gas than CO2, but the other thing you need to understand is that it only stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years.

So things are going to continue to get hotter, ice is going to continue to melt, sea levels are going to rise, more and more areas of the earth are going to become too hot for people to work outside, agricultural workers will die, construction workers will die, it is gonna be bad.

But there is hope the human race might still come out the other side.

Methane in the atmosphere has a half life very similar to that of radioactive decay. The current estimate of the half life of methane is 8.6 years. But if we suddenly drop a butt load of methane into the atmosphere that may take a few half lives to get back to normal. I would have to see what the estimates of the amount that could be released compared to the current amounts.

And since cows were brought up they are a constant source of methane. Though I do love my beef. I could give it up for the world if needed.

 

[wellwisher]

Not one mention of blaming cow farts lol

We could be 16 years into a methane-fueled 'termination' event significant enough to end an ice age

"A dramatic spike in atmospheric methane over the past 16 years may be a sign that Earth's climate could flip within decades, scientists have warned.

Large amounts of methane wafting from tropical wetlands into Earth's atmosphere could trigger warming similar to the "termination" events that ended ice ages, replacing frosty expanses of tundra with tropical savanna, a new study finds. Researchers first detected a strange peak in methane emissions in 2006, but until now, it was unclear where the gas was leaking from and if it constituted a novel trend.

"A termination is a major reorganization of the Earth's climate system," study lead author Euan Nisbet, a professor emeritus of Earth sciences at Royal Holloway, University of London, told Live Science. "These repeated changes have taken the world from ice ages into the sort of interglacial we have now."

Ice age terminations typically occur in three phases, which are recorded in ice cores going back 800,000 years. The initial phase is characterized by a gradual rise in methane and CO2, leading to global warming over a few thousand years. This is followed by a sharp increase in temperatures fueled by a burst of methane, leveling off in a third phase lasting several thousand years."

MSN

It is good that science is finally being allowed to address some aspects of natural climate change factors such as methane and other gases like CO2 from soil bacteria. This was from England and not from the US, since that would not be allowed since you will not get funding or be allowed to publish.

Ironically, the Political Left has worked hard to protect the wetlands, even puddles, that are ripe for methane production. Then they blame it on cows, since Lefty Vegans hate meat. They mismanaged forests leading to huge forest fires and also blocked nuclear power resulting in fossil fuel dependence that is now blamed on manmade climate change; Keystone Cops.

Here are some interesting facts about how the earth naturally creates methane hydrate; from Wikipedia.

Methane clathrate (CH4·5.75H2O) or (8CH4·46H2O), also called methane hydrate, hydromethane, methane ice, fire ice, natural gas hydrate, or gas hydrate, is a solid clathrate compound (more specifically, a clathrate hydrate) in which a large amount of methaneis trapped within a crystal structure of water, forming a solid similar to ice.

Methane clathrates are common constituents of the shallow marine geosphere and they occur in deep sedimentary structures and form outcrops on the ocean floor. Methane hydrates are believed to form by the precipitation or crystallisation of methane migrating from deep along geological faults. Precipitation occurs when the methane comes in contact with water within the sea bed subject to temperature and pressure.

If geological faults are releasing heat and methane into the high pressure ocean water, this not only heats the oceans from below, but create a stockpile of natural gas hydrates that reverse as pressure falls. During an ice age more water stays on land and the ocean pressure is less so methane is released to warm us back up.

 

[We Never Know]

The paper isn't the first to point out the dangers of stored methane, it's a well known fact. New is only that the tipping point may be nearer than previously assumed.

Have you ever read about this? Pretty wild.

"The Darvaza gas crater AKA the gates of hell(230 feet wide, 75+ feet deep)is a collapsed portion of a gas field in Turkmenistan that, thanks to natural underground gas deposits, has been continually on fire since 1971. The crater was originally set alight by scientists who wanted to prevent the spread of dangerous methane gas."

The Door to Hell or Darvaza gas crater | Geology, Formation

The Door to Hell, also known as the Darvaza gas crater, is a unique geological phenomenon located in Turkmenistan. It is a large crater that has been burning continuously for over 50 years, earning its nickname as "The Door to Hell."

geologyscience.com

 

[Heyo]

Have you ever read about this? Pretty wild.

"The Darvaza gas crater AKA the gates of hell(230 feet wide, 75+ feet deep)is a collapsed portion of a gas field in Turkmenistan that, thanks to natural underground gas deposits, has been continually on fire since 1971. The crater was originally set alight by scientists who wanted to prevent the spread of dangerous methane gas."

The Door to Hell or Darvaza gas crater | Geology, Formation

The Door to Hell, also known as the Darvaza gas crater, is a unique geological phenomenon located in Turkmenistan. It is a large crater that has been burning continuously for over 50 years, earning its nickname as "The Door to Hell."

geologyscience.com

Yes, I knew about it.

The methane in the Tundra can also be released explosively which leads to similar craters (though not that big, but many of them): The mystery of Siberia’s exploding craters

 

[We Never Know]

Yes, I knew about it.

The methane in the Tundra can also be released explosively which leads to similar craters (though not that big, but many of them): The mystery of Siberia’s exploding craters

I think its pretty wild that roughly one acre of land has been burning for over 50 years.

 

[Heyo]

I think its pretty wild that roughly one acre of land has been burning for over 50 years.

It is and since there is this crater it is also a stunning sight.
But there are bigger and longer burning fires, mostly coal mines. One is in Pennsylvania and burns since 1962:
Centralia Mine Fire: Underground Coal Fire Has Been Burning for Over 50 Years

 

[Subduction Zone]

Have you ever read about this? Pretty wild.

"The Darvaza gas crater AKA the gates of hell(230 feet wide, 75+ feet deep)is a collapsed portion of a gas field in Turkmenistan that, thanks to natural underground gas deposits, has been continually on fire since 1971. The crater was originally set alight by scientists who wanted to prevent the spread of dangerous methane gas."

The Door to Hell or Darvaza gas crater | Geology, Formation

The Door to Hell, also known as the Darvaza gas crater, is a unique geological phenomenon located in Turkmenistan. It is a large crater that has been burning continuously for over 50 years, earning its nickname as "The Door to Hell."

geologyscience.com

Your source is a bit odd. it was not "geologists" that were drilling. The old Soviet Union was looking for a source for natural gas. Why would geologists be drilling for natural gas? Geologists probably helped find the source, but that would have been where their work ended. After that the drilling and the decision what to do was a government operation. This source is better:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/turkmenistan-gates-of-hell-darvaza-crater-intl-hnk/index.html#:~:text=The%20crater%20was%20formed%20in,it's%20been%20burning%20ever%20since.