Taking water samples from a glacial river on Svalbard. (Gabrielle Kleber via SWNS)
Melting Arctic glaciers are creating a climate "doom loop" by flushing out ancient methane from rocks beneath the ice, reveals new research.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 >@C6 8=24:6CD >6=E[ E96 >@C6 @7 E96 8C66?9@FD6 82D E96J 2C6 =:<6=J E@ C6=62D6 :?E@ E96 2E>@DA96C6[ D2J D4:6?E:DED]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 DEF5J D9@HD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^_e^`f^C:G6CD\>2J\D66\>@C6\7C6BF6?E\7=@@5D\2?5\5C@F89ED\5F6\E@\4=:>2E6\492?86^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm>6=EH2E6C C:G6CDk^2m 7=@H:?8 7C@> $G2=32C5 8=24:6CD :?D:56 E96 pC4E:4 r:C4=6 2C6 42CCJ:?8 2?4:6?E >6E92?6 7C@> C@4<D F?56C E96 :46 :?E@ E96 @A6? 2:Ck^Am
Dr. Gabrielle Kleber during Svalbard fieldwork. (Erik Mannerfelt via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 7:?5:?8D C6G62= 2 ?2EFC2= Q7665324<Q =@@A E92E D4:6?E:DED H2C? >2J H@CD6? 2D E96 pC4E:4 4@?E:?F6D E@ 86E H2C>6C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J D2J >6=E:?8 8=24:6CD 42? @A6? 9:556? A2E9H2JD 7@C E96 A@H6C7F= 8C66?9@FD6 82D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 DEF5J[ AF3=:D965 :? E96 ;@FC?2= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2EFC6]4@>^?4@>>DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm}2EFC6 r@>>F?:42E:@?Dk^2m[ H2D =65 3J v23C:6==6 z=636C 7C@> E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^:4b]F:E]?@^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQm:rb !@=2C #6D62C49 wF3k^2m :? %C@>Dø[ }@CH2J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw6C E62> D2>A=65 C:G6CD 5C2:?:?8 G2==6J 8=24:6CD 24C@DD $G2=32C5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J 7@F?5 >6E92?6 :? 6G6CJ C:G6C E96J E6DE65]k^Am
Taking hydrochemical measurements of a glacial river on Svalbard. (Gabrielle Kleber via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C49 E62> E@@< `cg H2E6C D2>A=6D 7C@> `h 8=24:6C\765 C:G6CD :? 46?EC2= $G2=32C5[ AC@G:5:?8 E96 >@DE 6IE6?D:G6 2DD6DD>6?E J6E @7 >6E92?6 :? 8=24:6C >6=EH2E6C :? E96 C68:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmtG6CJ C:G6C :? E96:C DFCG6J 4@?E2:?65 >@C6 >6E92?6 E92? 6IA64E65 7C@> 4@?E24E H:E9 E96 2E>@DA96C6[ H:E9 E96 9:896DE G2=F6D C6249:?8 FA E@ cad E:>6D E92E =6G6=]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$EF5J 4@\2FE9@C $:=;6 (22=6C D2JD E96 E62> 56=:36C2E6=J 56D:8?65 E96 DFCG6J E@ 42AEFC6 E96 5:G6CD:EJ @7 8=24:6CD 24C@DD E96 C68:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$96 D2:5i Q(6 H2?E65 E@ DEF5J >2?J 5:776C6?E 8=24:6CD[ 24C@DD 2 C2?86 @7 C@4< EJA6D 2?5 :46 4@?5:E:@?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%92E 82G6 FD 2 4=62C6C A:4EFC6 @7 H9J D@>6 8=24:6C C:G6CD 42CCJ >@C6 >6E92?6 E92? @E96CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp <6J 7:?5:?8 H2D E92E E96 >6E92?6 :D >@DE=J ?@E 36:?8 >256 3J >:4C@36D F?56C E96 :46[ 2D 92D 366? @3D6CG65 36?62E9 8=24:6CD :? vC66?=2?5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmx?DE625[ :E 2AA62CD E@ 4@>6 7C@> $G2=32C5VD 86@=@8J]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm|2?J A2CED @7 E96 2C49:A6=28@ 4@?E2:? @=5 D92=6 =2J6CD C:49 :? @C82?:4 42C3@?]k^Am
Dr. Gabrielle Kleber taking Svalbard water samples. (Erik Mannerfelt via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm~G6C >:==:@?D @7 J62CD[ 962E 2?5 AC6DDFC6 42? EFC? E96 >2E6C:2= :?E@ >6E92?6 2?5 @E96C 82D6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J 2=D@ 2?2=JK65 E96 42C3@? :? E96 >6E92?6 E@ :56?E:7J :ED D@FC46]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmx? D@>6 D2>A=6D[ E96J >62DFC65 C6=2E65 82D6D — :?4=F5:?8 6E92?6 2?5 AC@A2?6 — H9:49 96=A65 4@?7:C> E92E >F49 @7 E96 >6E92?6 42>6 7C@> 86@=@8:42= D@FC46D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmz=636C D2:5i Q%96D6 8=24:6CD 2C6 >@DE=J >6=E:?8 @? E96:C DFC7246D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQqFE E9:D >6=EH2E6C 7:?5D :ED H2J E@ E96 3@EE@> @7 E96 8=24:6CD E9C@F89 4C6G2DD6D 2?5 9@=6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%9:D >62?D E92E :E :?E6C24ED H:E9 E96 C@4<D F?56C?62E9[ 2?5 H96C6 E9@D6 C@4<D 4@?E2:? 2?4:6?E 82D[ E96 H2E6C 42? 7=FD9 >6E92?6 @FE :?E@ C:G6CD]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$96 D2:5 E96 >@DE >6E92?6\C:49 H2E6CD 42>6 7C@> 8=24:6CD C6DE:?8 @? D92=6\362C:?8 C@4< 7@C>2E:@?D[ 3FE 86@=@8J 2=@?6 5:5 ?@E 6IA=2:? 6G6CJE9:?8]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 E62> 2=D@ 7@F?5 E92E E96 A9JD:42= DE2E6 @7 E96 8=24:6C 365 >2EE6CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv=24:6CD H:E9 E92H65[ H6E 2?5 24E:G6 365D H6C6 72C 36EE6C 2E A:4<:?8 FA >6E92?6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv=24:6CD 7C@K6? E@ E96:C 365D H6C6 =6DD 4@??64E65 E@ E96 C@4<D 36=@H[ 6G6? H96? >6E92?6\C:49 86@=@8J H2D AC6D6?E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 AC@46DD6D[ E96 C6D62C49 E62> 4@>3:?65 C:G6C 496>:DECJ H:E9 :46 DFCG6JD]k^Am
Conducting a radar survey on a Svalbard glacier during winter. (Gabrielle Kleber via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96J FD65 8C@F?5\A6?6EC2E:?8 C252C E@ >2A :46 4@?5:E:@?D H:E9:? D6=64E65 8=24:6CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%92E 2==@H65 E96> E@ 6DE:>2E6 9@H >F49 @7 6249 8=24:6C 365 H2D E92H65 2?5 23=6 E@ 42CCJ H2E6C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmr@\2FE9@C {6@?2C5 |286C=[ 2 5@4E@C2= 42?5:52E6[ D2:5i Q%96 E6>A6C2EFC6 2E E96 32D6 @7 8=24:6CD :D 2? :>A@CE2?E A:646 @7 E96 AFKK=6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ(6 7@F?5 E92E E96 3:886DE >6E92?6 C6=62D6D 92AA6?65 H96C6 E96 C:89E C@4<D 2?5 E96 C:89E 8=24:6C 4@?5:E:@?D 42>6 E@86E96C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%9:D :?D:89E 42? 96=A E@ 6DE:>2E6 6>:DD:@?D 7C@> @E96C :46\4@G6C65 C68:@?D]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 C6D62C49 E62> 6DE:>2E6D E92E =2?5\E6C>:?2E:?8 8=24:6CD 24C@DD $G2=32C5 >2J EC2?DA@CE 36EH66? 2C@F?5 `ga E@ beg >6EC:4 E@?D @7 >6E92?6 A6C J62C :? >6=EH2E6C[ 56A6?5:?8 @? 9@H E96 6DE:>2E6 :D D42=65]k^Am
River flowing out of the bottom of a melting Svalbard glacier. (Leonard Magerl via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%92E :D :? 255:E:@? E@ AC6G:@FD[ >F49 9:896C 6DE:>2E6D 7@C >6E92?6 C6=62D65 3J 8C@F?5H2E6C DAC:?8D :? 7C@?E @7 8=24:6CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmqFE E96 C6D62C496CD D2J :E DE:== A@:?ED E@ 2 H:56DAC625 2?5 F?56C4@F?E65 A2E9H2J 7@C 2?4:6?E 42C3@? E@ C6249 E96 2E>@DA96C6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm(9:=6 E96 DEF5J 7@4FD65 @? $G2=32C5[ E96 E62> 36=:6G6D D:>:=2C >6E92?6\C6=62D6 A2E9H2JD =:<6=J @44FC :? @E96C 8=24:2E65 C68:@?D H96C6 :46 @G6C=:6D @C82?:4\C:49 C@4<D @C D65:>6?ED — :?4=F5:?8 =2C86 A2CED @7 E96 pC4E:4[ E96 w:>2=2J2D 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^_g^`f^2?4:6?E\A6?8F:?\3@?6D\C6G62=\2?E2C4E:42D\D9:7E\7C@>\H2C>\E@\4@=5^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmp?E2C4E:42k^2m]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmz=636C D2:5i Q%96 2>@F?ED C6A@CE65 96C6 2C6 D>2== 4@>A2C65 H:E9 9F>2?\42FD65 6>:DD:@?D 7C@> 7@DD:= 7F6=D[ 72C>:?8 2?5 H2DE6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQqFE E96J >2EE6C 3642FD6 E96J C6G62= 2 ?2EFC2= 7665324< =@@A E92E :D ?@E 4@?7:?65 E@ $G2=32C5[ 2?5 E92E >2J 8C@H 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E2=<6C]?6HD^a_ae^_g^a_^DEF5J\7:?5D\H92=6D\7@==@H:?8\7:D9\?@CE9\5F6\E@\H2C>:?8\H2E6CD^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q C6=lQ?@C676CC6C ?@@A6?6CQmE96 pC4E:4 H2C>Dk^2m]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmpD 8=24:6CD E9:? 2?5 C6EC62E[ D96 D2JD >@C6 >6=EH2E6C >2J C6249 E96:C 365D H949 42? :?4C62D6 4@?E24E H:E9 7C24EFC65 C@4<[ D65:>6?E 2?5 8C@F?5H2E6C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmx? D@>6 A=246D[ E92E >2J 7=FD9 @FE >@C6 >6E92?6]k^Am
Researcher hiking to the next sampling site on Svalbard. (Gabrielle Kleber via SWNS)
By Talker
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmz=636C D2:5 D@>6 $G2=32C5 8=24:6CD 2C6 2=D@ 364@>:?8 4@=56C 2E E96:C 365D 2D E96J D9C:?<]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmx7 2 8=24:6C 364@>6D 7C@K6? E@ :ED 365[ D96 D2:5 :ED 23:=:EJ E@ 7=FD9 >6E92?6 E9C@F89 DF38=24:2= C:G6CD >2J 72==]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmz=636C 25565i Q~FC C6DF=ED D9@H E92E 7FEFC6 >6E92?6 C6=62D6 H:== 56A6?5 @? 3@E9 86@=@8J 2?5 8=24:6C 492?86]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmQ%92E >2<6D :E :>A@CE2?E E@ <?@H H92E =:6D 36?62E9 E96 :46[ ?@E @?=J 9@H 72DE E96 :46 :D >6=E:?8]Qk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmz=636C 2?5 |286C= 92G6 AC6G:@FD=J 7@F?5 E92E >6=EH2E6C 7C@> @?6 $G2=32C5 8=24:6C 4@F=5 42CCJ 86@=@8:4 >6E92?6 7C@> 36?62E9 E96 :46[ >2<:?8 :E C6=62D6 >@C6 >6E92?6 A6C 2C62 E92? vC66?=2?5 8=24:6CD]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmqFE ?6H=J F?4@G6C65 8C@F?5H2E6C DAC:?8D 2C6 2=D@ C6=62D:?8 E96 A@E6?E 8C66?9@FD6 82D :? $G2=32C5]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm%96 ?6H DEF5J D9@HD E92E >6E92?6\C:49 >6=EH2E6C :D ?@E F?:BF6 E@ @?6 8=24:6C[ 3FE :D H:56DAC625 24C@DD 46?EC2= $G2=32C5 36:?8 DEC@?86DE H96C6 D92=6\C:49 86@=@8J 2?5 E92H65 8=24:6C 365D @G6C=2A]k^Am