Methane released by global warming is harmful

• April 19, 2024

The gas enclosed in the frozen ground of Siberia and its lakes has been going out since the end of the last ice age 10 thousand years ago. But in recent decades, due to the warming of the land, the soil of this area has begun to thaw much more quickly than centuries ago, this phenomenon accelerates the release of methane at high speed, a greenhouse gas 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, in addition to being highly volatile.

Russian scientists made a simple experiment in which they drilled a few centimeters of the surface in order to break the bubbles contained in the methane , later they ignited fire in the mouth of the hole; the reaction was the immediate combustion of this gas , which indicates that, if this continues, this gas will be released in the atmosphere soon.

The incidence of climate change Some scientists believe that the thaw of the permafrost (which is the ice sheet permanently frozen at the surface levels of the soil) could become the epicenter of climate change , since it is amplified in the polar regions. A modest increase in temperature is enough to induce the glaciers of Greenland to melt, to the thinning of the Arctic sea ice, and in general to the rapid thaw, both on land and in the marine subsoil.

They assure that there are 1.5 trillion of tons of carbon, enclosed within the ice-covered land since the time of the mammoths. This exorbitant amount of gas represents a time bomb about to explode if they are released into the atmosphere.

The risk of an explosion puts the entire planet on alert, the repercussions of an event of this magnitude would cause irreversible consequences in the environment and therefore in the Health of the humanity, without eagerness to be alarmist, the presence of methane in the atmosphere, represents a red focus to take measures of prevention.

Effects on health

Methane is not toxic as such, its main danger to health are the Burns which can cause if it goes into ignition. It is highly flammable and can form explosive mixtures with air. Methane reacts violently with oxidants, halogens and some halogenated compounds.

The methane It is also a suffocating and can move the oxygen in a closed space. Asphyxia can occur if the oxygen concentration is reduced below 19.5% by displacement. The concentrations at which explosive or flammable barriers are formed are much smaller than the concentrations at which the risk of suffocation It is significant. If there are structures built on or near landfills, the methane Detached can penetrate the interior of buildings and expose occupants to significant levels of methane. Some buildings have systems below their foundations to capture this gas and expel it from the building.

Video Medicine: Cow farts and climate change (April 2024).