Melting tundra releases immense carbon stores

A study recently conducted by Dr. Sofia Hjalmarsson of the Department of Chemistry at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg found that the permafrost layer stretching across the vast reaches of the Arctic contains an additional global warming hazard.

Besides the melting of methane hydrate crystals, which have already been observed as gaseous bubbles rising from an increasing number of Siberian lakes and other water bodies, the thawing tundra also releases stored carbon.

Dr. Hjalmarsson’s studies of the Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi Seas of north Siberia as well as the Baltic Sea revealed elevated carbon dioxide levels in all of them, meaning that organic carbon released from the permafrost is being carried by the rivers out into the coastal waters.

Dr. Hjalmarsson warned that the danger of the permafrost thawing is that it cannot be stopped once it advances beyond a certain stage, meaning that the melting of the vast carbon stores must be stopped now.

Our appreciation, Dr. Sofia Hjalmarsson for this important research showing the ever-increasing dangers of global warming. May findings as these spur us all toward sustainable practices such as the Earth-saving vegan diet. During an international gathering with our Association members in February 2008, Supreme Master Ching Hai spoke of toxic gases such as methane being released with atmospheric warming, as she urged for the solution that addresses the root cause.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: You see, the gases are fuming from the ocean and from the land that’s been defrosting. It’s fuming everywhere. It’s just that at the moment, it’s not so intense.

Everybody knows by now, from the UN report that meat eating, animal raising, it’s one of the worst factors, or even the worst factor of global warming. And nobody talks about it.

Everybody says, new energy, biofuel, hybrid car, dig a hole and store the carbon.” As if it will not bust one day. And before that you have to breathe in already, as if will not affect you.

What is so difficult, to put down one piece of meat, and replace it with one piece of tofu? Which is exactly the same, better nutrition. Better for your health. More economized.

http://www.physorg.com/news182430651.html
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=65756&CultureCode=en
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Tundra-Meltdown-Triggers-Carbon-Spills-131761.shtml

Siberian Arctic temperatures and methane emissions sharply increased

Scientists from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks in the USA have reported that the shallow undersea permafrost in Siberia, which until recent years was stable, is now noted as releasing significant amounts of methane, even more than the record highs from Summer 2008.

According to lead scientist Professor Igor Semiletov, who is also head of the International Siberian Shelf Study (ISSS), the region is experiencing the fastest temperature rise of the planet.

Springtime air is currently measured at an average of 4 degrees Celsius higher than in the last three decades of the 20th century. Sudden releases of methane gas are linked to runaway global warming and are considered a factor in the past mass extinction of species.

The Alaskan researchers state that if the current warming conditions continue, the melting of underwater Siberian permafrost would release catastrophic amounts of methane.

Dr. Sergey Kirpotin – Tomsk University (Quote in Russian): As more permafrost melts, more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. It is absolutely evident. We could be uncertain in quantitative terms, but the fact that this process has a global character, global importance and global scale is absolutely evident.

Vladimir Chuprov – Greenpeace Russia Representative (Quote in Russian): It is essential to come up with a new international agreement that could guarantee the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions – the causes of the global climate change.

Only then could we slow down these negative processes that take place also in the Russian Arctic. Professor Semiletov and University of Alaska colleagues, we appreciate this clarion call about the dire signals being conveyed by our Earth.

May we all deeply realize the grave nature of climate change and act now to protect our shared planetary home. As on many occasions, Supreme Master Ching Hai explained during an October 2009 videoconference in Hong Kong the urgent situation of methane gas release, while offering the surest solution.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: There are massive quantities of gases, poisonous and explosive, such as under the permafrost. The gas released then causes more warming, which causes even more gas to be released. This is like a vicious circle. They even call this vicious feedback cycle a so-called “climate time bomb.” We are running out of time, we must wake up soon; we must make a small sacrifice and changes.

I am hopeful. I’m having a positive feeling that it won’t happen to Earth, but we all must work; we cannot sit there and wait for a miracle to happen. God needs us to represent Hirm in compassion, in merciful heart, in the way we live a godly life, befitting God’s children. If we all become vegan and live a virtuous, compassionate life, it won’t happen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8437703.stm

Arctic permafrost could release vast amounts of greenhouse gases

A four-year study by the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has revealed that the carbon stores beneath the vast Arctic tundra, or permafrost, are much higher than previously estimated. CSIRO’s Global Carbon Project Executive Director, Dr. Josep Canadell, stated, 『Projections show that almost all near-surface permafrost will disappear by the end of this century, exposing large carbon stores to decomposition and release of greenhouse gases.”

He went on to state his own observations on a recent trip to China that the permafrost at the Arctic’s southern limit had nearly disappeared in the last ２０ years. It is estimated that even a １０ percent permafrost melt would result in a ０.７ degree Celsius increase in temperature, causing more intense storms, droughts and rising sea levels, with further warming that could be irreversible and catastrophic if the thaw happens too quickly.

Dr. Canadell and colleagues at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, we appreciate your efforts in providing this alarming report. Let us all awaken now and act in bringing sustainable Earth-saving measures to preserve the environment for ourselves and all beings.

In a July ２００８ videoconference with our Association members in Seattle, Washington, USA, Supreme Master Ching Hai warned of the planet’s imperilled state, offering her insights on how to best ensure our stable future.


Supreme Master Ching Hai: If the ice melts and the sea warms, then the gas will be released into the atmosphere, and it does already according to scientists’ research and pro of. So the gas that release into the atmosphere might affect you.

And you see, if it is not cold then even all the permafrost, which is the cold hard mud layers, will be melted also, and then the gas from the permafrost also will be released. And that’s the reason maybe you feel more tired.

And some places may have more mental illness, and all kind of other illnesses, and diseases go where they have not been before even.

So everybody has to join to into the vegetarian diet, and stop the killing, stop the harm to other people and the animals and save energies every way possible and go green wherever possible.
THEN WE STILL CAN SAVE THE PLANET.

Reference
http://www.reuters.com/article/africaCrisis/idUSSP458218
http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/who_is_who/pep_canadell.htm

the Arctic Ocean will probably be ice free by the end of this century

Melting of Arctic puts us in a perilous situation. Following a visit to Siberia several weeks ago, Dr. Katey Walter, an ecologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the USA stated that the permafrost is melting at an unprecedented rate across the Arctic. She said, “Lakes in Siberia are five times bigger than when I measured them in 2006. It's unprecedented. This is a global event now.” Norwegian scientists also recently reported a steady and relatively large increase in atmospheric methane levels since 2004, which they believe is due to the thawing of permafrost in North America and Russia. With methane’s warming potential averaged over 20 years being some 72 times higher than that of CO2, excessive release of this gas could accelerate global warming beyond our control.

Our gratitude, Norwegian scientists and Dr. Katey Walter for your eye-opening reports on the urgency of the global warming crisis. We pray that all heed the warning signs and act now in vital areas such as eliminating meat consumption to halt the production of atmospheric methane and save our Mother Earth.

In a June 2008 videoconference in London, United Kingdom, Supreme Master Ching Hai further explained the connection between the accelerated rate of melting permafrost and livestock raising, the most serious cause of atmospheric warming.

Videoconference with Supreme Master Ching Hai
London Center United Kingdom June 13, 2008

Supreme Master Ching Hai: So now, the permafrost layer is melting each day. And the methane gas, or other gas even, are releasing into the atmosphere. I really hope and pray that someone is listening. Methane and nitrous oxide is made by stock raising, stock keeping, animals keeping.They are far more poisonous, far more dangerous than CO2. Because the atmosphere is getting warmer and so the methane is bubbling out. If we stop the worst cause of global warming, meaning stock raising, animal breeding, then we will be able to save the planet.

Global warming may trigger carbon 'time bomb', scientist warns

Runaway explosive gas from a warming Arctic. At the Copenhagen Climate Congress this past week, climate researcher Dr. Philippe Ciais of the French Laboratory for Climate Sciences and the Environment warned that just a 2 degree Celsius rise in average world temperature could instigate a carbon “time bomb” in the vast regions of Arctic permafrost. The sustained warming of the soil would initiate bacterial composting, leading to a cycle of accelerated temperature increase and the possibly explosive, fatal release of billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

In a recent phone interview with Supreme Master Television, Dr. Isobel Simpson of the University of California – Irvine, USA, shared her views and concern about the current situation of thawing in the Arctic.

Dr. Isobel Simpson – Atmosphere chemist, University of California – Irvine, USA (F): A lot of the climate change feed back scenarios involve methane. You know there is all this methane trapped in the permafrost in the Arctic, and you already get research coming out saying, these lakes are thawing in Siberia and you’re getting all this methane released from these thawed lakes. There’s so much methane trapped under the permafrost, orders of magnitude more than what’s in the atmosphere now and the concern is, at what point does that methane start being released under melting scenarios?

That is what would keep me awake at night, is thinking about the future and where are the methane reservoirs. How stable are they? How fast is the change occurring in the Arctic? And can we get carbon dioxide under control before something catastrophic happens?

VOICE: Drs. Simpson, Ciais and colleagues, we thank you for alerting us to the dire situation caused by the warming atmosphere to our Earth. We pray that the world’s citizens quickly transition to a kinder, more considerate lifestyle to preserve all life on our beautiful globe.

During a videoconference with Supreme Master Television staff members in California, USA in January 2009, Supreme Master Ching Hai revealed through her insight and inner contact with inhabitants of Mars some truths about their history of climate change. Only a tiny minority had survived the runaway events, whose beginnings were similar in many ways to the current situation on Earth.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: The mass extinction came; they die, not only human beings on there, but the animals also; they die by two main poisonous gases. Namely, hydrogen sulfide and nitrous oxide, plus methane as the third cause. But hydrogen sulfide and methane from the livestock begun to warm the climate and then triggered more other gases from the ocean, from permafrost and glacier around their planet. Just like what is happening to our planet right now.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: As the destruction happened too fast and no one can help anyone. Only 0.2% of them escaped, around 2 million, into the underground caves. And that’s how they survive.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: They retain the history of what happened, so that the descendants know how to take care of what they have and not to be careless, and not to be so destructive anymore but more virtuous and spiritual.