Scientists at the University of Wyoming may have discovered how massive amounts of carbon enter the atmosphere during periods of global warming.
In a paper published Jan. 8 in the journal Nature, UW Department of Geology and Geophysics graduate student Matthew Hornbach and professors Demian Saffer and Steve Holbrook propose that the source of the carbon is methane gas found beneath methane hydrate -- an ice-like substance consisting of frozen methane and water. Methane hydrate exists in vast quantities beneath the ocean floor and is believed to constitute the largest reservoir of organic carbon on Earth.
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1 comments so far...
29-Aug-2005
9126
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I am happy to read one of the best opinions from science community about methane and CO2 causing global warming. We should always keep in mind the main factors which are producing the effects, not the insignificant ones like on a Discovery Science documentary it had been said "sheeps are producing methane causing global warming for releasing 20 millions tones of CH4". How about 2000 Gigatones released from arctic glaciers now melting ? What about human activities ? ... Well I think they are still secondary in producing CO2 and CH4. Reducing them to zero beginning tomorrow, WILL NOT CHANGE THE SITUATION.
However it is better to do something then nothing, but we are facing Mother Nature not only George Bush (not signing Kyoto's...). Mother Nature will not "sign" anything. It just goes on its way no matter human civilization will return to stoneage or middle ages, or to whatsoever because of this. How about volcanoes ? Could we stop them not to release 20 bilions of tones of CO2 and SO2 every year ? I don't think we have methods to "persuave" them not to.
Please continue to inform the public ! You are doing a great job.
Best wishes
Cristian
Posted by: Cristian Muresanu
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