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According to at least one scientific study, the Earth is about to undergo radical changes in the next century if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the Earth could change so dramatically that it could trigger human extinction, as a recent study on exo-civilizations predicted. Solutions ranged from rational (switching to alternative sources of energy) to bizarre (building megastructures in parts of West Antarctic to prevent it from collapsing), but it could There was one factor that could be counted on: permafrost and Arctic lakes.
As the planet heats up, vast expanses of permafrost across the Arctic begin to melt, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the soil trapped in the ice. This carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere and further accelerates climate change, resulting in greater melting of permafrost, and so on. According to the Alaska Daily News, a research team led by Katey Walter Anthony has discovered that thermokarst lakes formed by melting permafrost also release greenhouse gases from previously frozen soils, but the most troubling discovery of Called Esieh Lake.
Esieh Lake is one of many lakes scattered throughout the Arctic that never freeze completely due to the emission of methane from its bottom. After studying the source of the methane, Anthony's team discovered that the source was not soil, it was fossil fuel caches – old organic matter. Not only is methane a stronger initial accelerator for climate change, but Esieh releases more – and if there are more, it could be disastrous for current efforts to reduce climate change. greenhouse gas emissions. According to research from the Anthony team, the continued growth of lakes like Esieh could double the amount of greenhouse gases coming into the Arctic by 2100.
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