4 ms·

This kind of Question might be unpopular but do those wildfires have any quantitative relevance in accelerating global warming? Or ask differently how much of S

by singularity2001 7y ago

This kind of Question might be unpopular but do those wildfires have any quantitative relevance in accelerating global warming? Or ask differently how much of Siberia would have to burn to make any noticeable difference In the CO2 balance

adrianN 7y ago
These fires substantially accelerate the melting of the permafrost, both by the primary heat of combustion, but also by secondary effects like soot. Permafrost stores about 1500 Gigatons of carbon. Humanity has released about 650 Gigatons of carbon in total so far.
- konschubert 7y ago
  Will all those 1500 Gigatons be released when the permafrost melts?
  - simonh 7y ago
    I wouldn't think so, simply being melted doesn't mean it's released, but the decay processes triggered by the melting and now apparently wildfires will start eating into it. It's likely very difficult to predict what proportion would eventually be released and over what time frame. However it wouldn't take much in the grand scheme of things to negate any reductions in CO2 release we manage to make as a civilization, more or less maintaining the total current CO2 release levels indefinitely. That's a pretty worrying scenario by itself.
anonymous5133 7y ago
Yes. The impact is so significant that scientists refer to as the "carbon timebomb".
jussij 7y ago
The much bigger problem relating to this thawing permafrost is the fact that as it thaws it then starts to decompose. That decomposition not only produces carbon dioxide but also methane and methane is a much worse greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. So yes, this thawing permafrost provides several ways to help accelerate global warming.
- singularity2001 7y ago
  Wouldn’t it also provide fertile ground for trees to grow and absorb much more CO2 in total?
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - anigbrowl 7y ago
    That's kinda like noticing your house is on fire and thinking it's been a while since you had toasted marshmallows.

adrianN 7y ago

These fires substantially accelerate the melting of the permafrost, both by the primary heat of combustion, but also by secondary effects like soot. Permafrost stores about 1500 Gigatons of carbon. Humanity has released about 650 Gigatons of carbon in total so far.

konschubert 7y ago
Will all those 1500 Gigatons be released when the permafrost melts?
- simonh 7y ago
  I wouldn't think so, simply being melted doesn't mean it's released, but the decay processes triggered by the melting and now apparently wildfires will start eating into it. It's likely very difficult to predict what proportion would eventually be released and over what time frame. However it wouldn't take much in the grand scheme of things to negate any reductions in CO2 release we manage to make as a civilization, more or less maintaining the total current CO2 release levels indefinitely. That's a pretty worrying scenario by itself.

anonymous5133 7y ago

Yes. The impact is so significant that scientists refer to as the "carbon timebomb".

jussij 7y ago

The much bigger problem relating to this thawing permafrost is the fact that as it thaws it then starts to decompose. That decomposition not only produces carbon dioxide but also methane and methane is a much worse greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. So yes, this thawing permafrost provides several ways to help accelerate global warming.

singularity2001 7y ago
Wouldn’t it also provide fertile ground for trees to grow and absorb much more CO2 in total?
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- anigbrowl 7y ago
  That's kinda like noticing your house is on fire and thinking it's been a while since you had toasted marshmallows.