· 2 min read
Illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on the BGR or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: A new study in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that the Arctic Ocean, particularly the Beaufort Sea, is increasingly releasing carbon due to runoff from the Mackenzie River
• This shift challenges the Arctic's role as a significant carbon sink, which traditionally absorbs vast amounts of carbon
🔭 The context: The Arctic Ocean is essential in global carbon dynamics, absorbing an estimated 180 million metric tons of carbon annually
• However, the interaction between the carbon-rich runoff from Canada's Mackenzie River and the Arctic waters is altering this balance, leading to increased carbon emissions
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The Arctic's changing carbon dynamics are a critical concern for global climate change
• If this key carbon sink becomes a carbon source, it could accelerate climate change, undermining efforts to control global warming
⏭️ What's next: Proposals like an orbiting sunshade and other climate intervention strategies are being considered, though no definitive plan has been approved yet
💬 One quote: "The river is triggering an intense outgassing in the southeastern Beaufort Sea, essentially tipping the scales of carbon balance" (According to the study published in Geophysical Research Letters)
📈 One stat: The Arctic's net CO2 release is estimated at 0.13 metric tons per year, equivalent to the annual emissions from about 28,000 gasoline-driven cars
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