Overview

• 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.