use the following search parameters to narrow your results:
e.g. subreddit:pics site:imgur.com dog
subreddit:pics site:imgur.com dog
advanced search: by author, sub...
~4 users here now
Climate experts sound alarm over thriving plant life at Greenland ice sheet
submitted 2 months ago by ActuallyNot from theguardian.com
[–]hfxB0oyA 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (5 children)
The article says there's a "near-quadrupling of wetlands across Greenland, which are a source of methane emissions", but they don't elaborate. How significant are these emissions? How much is that offset by the carbon sequestration of the living greenery itself? Does a cover of moss help to mitigate trapped methane in the soil that bare land would otherwise release as the ice retreats? Enquiring minds want to know, and this article is light on info.
[–]ActuallyNot[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (2 children)
The methane emissions are small compared to the methane that Greenland sinks. Net regional methane sink in High Arctic soils of northeast Greenland
But methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas, so everything driving the increase that started in the mid to late twenty naughties is a concern for climate change.
[–]hfxB0oyA 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (1 child)
Yes, but my question is: in lieu of ice cover, what is the benefit of greenery over the soil for methane containment vs. just bare soil? Is there any? If so, how much?
[–]ActuallyNot[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (0 children)
what is the benefit of greenery over the soil for methane containment vs. just bare soil?
I don't know but I imagine that that would be a dis-benefit. Because growing vegetation eventually rots.
But the methane formerly trapped under permafrost would be the vastly larger problem.
[–]Questionable 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun - 2 months ago (1 child)
It also claims:
Significant areas of Greenland’s melted ice sheet are now producing vegetation, risking increased greenhouse gas emissions
But u/ActuallyNot tell us that "Water Vapor" is a powerful greenhouse gas. So, this assertion could literally be referencing melted ice, or water.
Transpiration does release water vapor. But they're probably talking methane.
[–]neolib 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (0 children)
I love those Arctic landscape photos:
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ce94b6cf91a109e671975eeb55988208e9e80bb7/0_276_4000_2400/master/4000.jpg?width=1900&dpr=1&s=none
https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/410577498dc5c7ded613abe4af77916c9f57a37d/285_0_5130_3078/master/5130.jpg?width=1900&dpr=1&s=none
[–]zyxzevn 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (0 children)
Can the Vikings (who named it Greenland) start harvesting Hop again? Would be great to a new place for harvesting, as the western countries are killing the farm production.
[–]Jiminy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (0 children)
Great news
[–]GuyWhite 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (1 child)
Ice is melting and plants are thriving. So, what is the problem?
[–]ActuallyNot[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - 2 months ago (0 children)
The problem is ice-abldeo feedback and global warming tipping points that put other parts of the world at higher temperatures than are livable.
[–]hfxB0oyA 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun - (5 children)
[–]ActuallyNot[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - (2 children)
[–]hfxB0oyA 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]ActuallyNot[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]Questionable 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun - (1 child)
[–]ActuallyNot[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]neolib 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]zyxzevn 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]Jiminy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)
[–]GuyWhite 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun - (1 child)
[–]ActuallyNot[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun - (0 children)