Thawing Permafrost -- Changing Planet

Because of a warming atmosphere, permafrost -- the frozen ground that covers the top of the world -- has been thawing rapidly over the last three decades. But there is cause for concern beyond the far north, because the carbon released from thawing permafrost could raise global temperatures even higher.

The Changing Planet series explores the impact that climate change is having on our planet, and is provided by the National Science Foundation (http://science360.gov/series/Changing+Planet/) & NBC Learn (http://www.nbclearn.com/changingplanet)

For related lesson plans, visit the Windows to the Universe project team at the National Earth Science Teachers Association at http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/changing_planet

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• NSF
• National Science Foundation
• changing
• planet
• science
• environment
• research
• ecology
• climate
• change
• Changing Planet
• NBC
• Learn
• education
• educational
• earth
• permafrost
• thawing
• melting
• carbon
• release

[Viracocha711]

@Catoni52 I have a serious question...You are 100% correct climate has changed in the past sometimes slow & sometimes fast...But do you know what those changes took place? Or do you really care?

[happinesson]

if we have food chain..we also have " problem chain" from the climate change, to global warming, to ice melting to the economic recession! all man-made? Yes..

[Catoni52]

The climate of this planet always changes. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Even if the Eco-socialists don't like that fact.

[Catoni52]

55 million years ago, during the early Eocene Epoch, Ellesmere Island was warm and ice-free. It was also home to lush lowland forests and swamps inhabited by alligators, giant tortoises, snakes, lizards, and a host of mammals that included primates, tapirs, hippo-like Coryphodon, and large, rhino-like brontotheres.

[Catoni52]

@MasterPCTech While the rest of the world's land masses have been moving a lot due to plate tectonics, .Ellesmere Island, and the other Canadian Arctic islands have pretty well been in their present positions for more than 100 million years.

[Catoni52]

@MasterPCTech "...child-like understanding..." ? ? A child would assume that climate never changes. A child with no knowledge of the subject would assume that climate is always the same. You did not answer the question : "How did those animal fossils get deep into the permafrost?" Here is another one. How did alligators and other animals, and forests, exist in the Arctic millions of years ago...like on Ellesmere Island?

[MasterPCTech]

@Catoni52 Your horrible, child-like understanding of climate and weather is obvious. Your "logic" does not flow, although I'm sure your cut-n-paste opinion surely seems valid to those who know nothing.

[Cheezwizzzzz]

Real Permafrost



[Desertphile]

@Catoni52 ; Idiot.

[Catoni52]

How did those animal fossils get deep into the permafrost? It must have thawed thousands or tens of thousands of years ago.Perhaps during the Holocene Climactic Optimum? Wasn't Earth ice free several milli0on years ago as well ? ? Perhaps the permafrost melting has happened many many times before.. Climate always changes on this planet doesn't it ? Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. I was reading about abrupt climate change. 10 degrees in a decade or two.