Climate Change and Frozen Rocks: Direct Relationship and Feedbacks

摘要

It has been shown that the maximum of climate variations in the northern subpolar zone observable over the last three decades conforms to the maximal methane and carbonic acid content in the atmosphere of the north latitudes. Statistical analysis of long-term variations of ground air temperature, gas composition of atmosphere, depth of seasonal melting, temperature, and distribution area of permafrost ground in the subpolar zone of the north hemisphere testifies to significant directional changes of basic cryolitozone characteristics. Analysis of the latitudinal distribution of flux density of anthropogenic and natural methane showed that the greatest methane emission is in the subpolar zone of the northern hemisphere, where anthropogenic impact is minimal. In view of the estimations of methane emission during thawing of permafrost grounds, a new hypothesis explaining the present climate conditions in northern latitudes has been proposed. The planetary maximum of climate warming in the arctic zone is substantially caused by methane and carbonic acid outbreaks from thawing permafrost grounds, which, in turn, is an additional reason for the greenhouse effect. This effect is materially analogous to the influence of technogenic discharge of greenhouse gases in the temperate zone.