Photo: Peter Blanchard / Flickr

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) says that a ‘tipping point’ in the climate could happen within 20 years. This finding comes from a multi-years study of the Arctic that included contributions from indigenous people of the Arctic and international scientists. The Arctic’s permafrost region is melting, which will release high levels of organic carbon dioxide. As a result, we could see irreversible climate change.

Permafrost thawing

Permafrost, land that always remains frozen, underlies most of the Arctic. This permafrost contains billions of tons of frozen organic matter and, as it melts, it releases carbon dioxide. The amount of carbon dioxide that will be released as more permafrost melts will have catastrophic effects on the climate, scientists say.

Climate change is imminent

Kevin Schaefer of the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre says two key messages should be taken from the study. Firstly, large amounts of carbon are released by melting permafrost, and secondly, the process is irreversible.

According to a study of the rate at which the permafrost is thawing, there will be a tipping point for climate change between 2020 and 2030. By this time the Arctic will be releasing carbon dioxide in large enough quantities to have a serious impact on global warming.

‘Our research shows that the release of carbon from permafrost will result in an irreversible climate tipping point in only 20 years… Once the frozen carbon thaws out and decays, there is no way to put it back into the permafrost,’ Kevin Schaefer, as reported by the Independent.

Warmest Arctic temperatures ever

Researchers also found that 2005-2010 was the warmest period the Arctic has ever known.

Sea ice has melted back, average temperatures are much higher and underground melting of permafrost is occurring from Alaska to Siberia.

Chief economist for the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, said in January that countries are not taking enough action to stop climate change.

Tags: environment