A Wildcard in Climate Change

Environmental & Science Education
STEM
Sustainability
Climate Change
Edward Hessler

One of the hard things to quantify in climate science/climate models is the role of arctic methane releases. Methane can increase the planet's warming "even more than CO2" as Paul Huttner notes in a post for September 26, 2018. What is not known is, "how much and how fast?"

A lake in northern Alaska, near the Brooks Range, has just been found "that is rapidly bubbling as it releases methane gas into the atmosphere." Huttner draws our attention to a "remarkable piece" written by Washington Post science writer, Chris Mooney.

Huttner discusses this with plenty of visual aids and comments. He also includes a link to Mooney's essay and a video showing this lake bubbling with all the fervor of a witch's cauldron.The bubbles are methane.

The lake was discovered by Dr. Katey Walter Anthony, a professor at the University of Alaska--Fairbanks. She is an ecologist who specializes in aquatic ecosystems.

For Mr. Huttner's blog entry and the video see here.