U.N. Warns Global Warming Is Melting Arctic Soil

Published: 07-Feb-2001

NAIROBI (Reuters) - U.N. scientists said Wednesday that global warming was melting the Arctic's permafrost, causing it to release greenhouse gases that could in turn raise temperatures even higher.

"This is very alarming," said Svein Tveidtal, a prominent scientist with the United Nations Environment Program. "The Arctic is an area where temperature changes are going to cause tremendous problems."

The vicious cycle could accelerate the so-called greenhouse effect and lead to the disintegration of the permafrost, causing serious damage to buildings, roads, pipelines and other infrastructure in Arctic areas like Alaska and Siberia.