Wednesday, February 8, 2012

GLOBAL WARMING/GREENHOUSE GASES/PERMAFROST



The longer I write here in the Advocate the more I understand the broader implications for Woolwich Township environmentally. Originally I thought Woolwich environmental issues would only be Chemtura, Bio-En, gravel pits and the like. Not so . That which affects the air and climate particularily also affects Woolwich Township,

In this case we have an article from the K-W Record dated last December 1, 2011. the title is "Permafrost thaw a "vicious cycle" of greenhouse gases". Apparently decaying plants after thousands of years in the north that were trapped in the ground by permafrost, are now being released as the permafrost thaws. "The permafrost scientists predict that over the next three decades a total of about 45 billion metric tonnes of carbon from methane and carbon dioxide will seep into the atmosphere when permafrost thaws during summers." Between now and 2100 the prediction is more than 300 billion metric tonnes of carbon will belch from the thawing earth. Methane is worse than carbon dioxide however they are both greenhouse gases and thus this "vicious cycle" of global warming will magnify its' own effects as the permafrost thaws.

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