Joker in the pack
Even more worrying than carbon dioxide escape is methane - it's about fifty times more powerful at warming up the Earth. Scientists believe the permafrost contains hydrates - methane molecules caged in ice. As temperatures rise, these hydrates could escape, leading to very rapid climate change.
'It's the joker in the pack - nobody knows whether the hydrates will blow, but if they do, the consequences could be catastrophic.' Peter Cox, Hadley Centre, Met. Office
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Peter Cox
Image: Crown Copyright |
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