Arctic Glacial Retreat Releasing Hidden Store of Potent Greenhouse Gas

Newly uncovered land from melting Arctic glaciers is emitting high amounts of methane, an extremely potent greenhouse gas.
These emissions are coming from groundwater pools below the glaciers and were previously unaccounted for in estimates of the global methane budget.
As the glaciers continue to melt due to climate change, these methane emissions are expected to increase significantly, creating a feedback loop that accelerates warming.
The researchers found that spring emissions of methane from melting glaciers in Svalbard, Norway could amount to over 2,000 tonnes each year, comparable to 10% of Norway's total annual emissions from oil and gas.
The discovery highlights how Arctic ice loss poses serious threats through the release of greenhouse gases and contributes to the urgency of reducing emissions and transitioning from fossil fuels.