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Massive permafrost thaw documented in Canada, portending huge carbon release

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Re: Massive permafrost thaw documented in Canada, portending huge carbon release

#2
I remember reading (probably about 2 decades ago) that if we were to loose the permafrost the resulting release of CO2 would lead to runaway warming.

I haven't read that concern recently, so I'm hopeful that scientists no longer feel that way, but it is alarming to see this day has come.

Re: Massive permafrost thaw documented in Canada, portending huge carbon release

#3
post #2

I remember reading (probably about 2 decades ago) that if we were to loose the permafrost the resulting release of CO2 would lead to runaway warming. I haven't read that concern recently, so I'm hopeful that scientists no longer feel that way, but it is alarming to see this day has come.

Last I heard, scientists still feel that way, but they've gotten burned-out on trying to explain to the public exactly how doomed we actually are.

Re: Massive permafrost thaw documented in Canada, portending huge carbon release

#4
post #2

I remember reading (probably about 2 decades ago) that if we were to loose the permafrost the resulting release of CO2 would lead to runaway warming. I haven't read that concern recently, so I'm hopeful that scientists no longer feel that way, but it is alarming to see this day has come.

Last I heard, scientists still feel that way, but they've gotten burned-out on trying to explain to the public exactly how doomed we actually are.

Yes, we still feel that way. It's not like we can do anything though.

Re: Massive permafrost thaw documented in Canada, portending huge carbon release

#5
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last I heard, scientists still feel that way, but they've gotten burned-out on trying to explain to the public exactly how doomed we actually are.

Yes, we still feel that way. It's not like we can do anything though.

How fast would the runaway happen?

Re: Massive permafrost thaw documented in Canada, portending huge carbon release

#8
post #2

I remember reading (probably about 2 decades ago) that if we were to loose the permafrost the resulting release of CO2 would lead to runaway warming. I haven't read that concern recently, so I'm hopeful that scientists no longer feel that way, but it is alarming to see this day has come.

Last I heard, scientists still feel that way, but they've gotten burned-out on trying to explain to the public exactly how doomed we actually are.

Yeah, the common sentiment is 'the best time to take action was 40 years ago. The absolute limit was 20 years ago. There's no stopping it now, even if we reduce our emissions to zero. The latent emissions in the atmosphere will already bone us. I'm glad I live in the Netherlands. We're a very rich country, and we have been battling water for more than a thousand years as a people. Places like Bangladesh will be completely destroyed..

Re: Massive permafrost thaw documented in Canada, portending huge carbon release

#10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last I heard, scientists still feel that way, but they've gotten burned-out on trying to explain to the public exactly how doomed we actually are.

Yeah, the common sentiment is 'the best time to take action was 40 years ago. The absolute limit was 20 years ago. There's no stopping it now, even if we reduce our emissions to zero . The latent emissions in the atmosphere will already bone us. I'm glad I live in the Netherlands. We're a very rich country, and we have been battling water for more than a thousand years as a people. Places like Bangladesh will be comp…

I joke this is the real reason Elon Musk is digging tunnels and preparing to live in a Mars-like environment...
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