Arctic methane breach an ‘economic time bomb’

Scientists warn a massive leak of methane from thawing shoreline in the Arctic could devastate the world’s climate and economy. Tons of the potent greenhouse gas are locked in the frozen shelf of the Arctic Ocean, which warms when summer sea ice retreats as a result of the greenhouse-gas effect. Scientists say if 50 billion tons of methane escaped over a decade from the floor of the East Siberian Sea, the release would “bring forward the date at which the global mean temperature rise exceeds two degrees Celsius by between 15 and 35 years.” One scientist describes the threat as an “invisible time bomb”. The damage to the climate system could be reflected in worse floods, droughts, storms and heat stress. Researchers say 80% of the effects would occur in poorer economies in Africa, Asia and South America.

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