The hidden carbon bomb buried deep within the world's thawing permafrost
As the planet warms, ancient frozen ground is beginning to thaw. This process releases massive amounts of trapped greenhouse gases, creating a dangerous feedback loop that accelerates global climate change. Discover how scientists use satellite data to monitor these invisible shifts from orbit.
Permafrost, ground that has remained frozen for millennia, is currently melting due to a warming climate. This thawing presents a dual threat: it disrupts local communities and releases significant quantities of methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Researchers estimate that permafrost contains nearly twice the carbon currently present in our atmosphere. Because this ground cannot be viewed directly from space, scientists combine satellite observations with ground-based measurements and complex modelling to track its condition and understand the accelerating impact on global temperatures.
