To Fear the "Dragon's Mouth" (Climate News)

[lucretiasheart]

Around 2009 I learned about how runaway climate change would likely begin a few years after our CO2 levels heat things up enough to melt permafrost and ocean ice and thus release methane, which is some 20 times more powerful of a greenhouse gas agent than carbon dioxide

Comments

[paradigmspieces]

I have noticed that the mainstream media has been giving the climate a bit more coverage. At the same time, I've read the stats that public interest in climate change is waning, I assume because it isn't changing like "The Day After Tomorrow

[lucretiasheart]

Further correction-- methane only takes a few MONTHS to a year to break down. While its active, it does a number on the climate, but it doesn't last long. Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, takes 20 to 30 years to really start its trouble, and then takes centuries to break down.

So I guess the issue with massive methane releases is heat surges in weather, which therefore contribute to climate instability in the short term. It all depends upon how much is in the atmosphere at any given time.

There is plenty of evidence that great heat surges may even lead to sudden short term ice ages at times-- climate is a complex system that does indeed have checks and balances.

Regardless, I'm firmly convinced that we are facing the adventure of several thousand lifetimes here! Its going to be quite a wild ride. Like any wild ride, I guess we have to learn how to hang the fuck on!