The Hidden Perils of Permafrost
video description
Date: 2023-11-16
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 30
Chris
It is interesting and very true that this can become the case but what I think they tend to leave out is time. It took roughly 2 billion years for the cyanobacteria to alter the atmosphere into the habitable zone humans can breath and live in, thats a long time for something so small to make a global change like that to the atmosphere. Another point is that while yes it is true that the extra CO2 can be used for plants and in theory will indeed aid their growth, the problem is that from an ecological standpoint this is still a disaster. A disaster because this will lead to a nutrient explosion creating a lot more life and once that CO2 runs out what will continue to feed the growth left behind by the extra CO2? Nothing, and so it will burn through that extra nutrient and die off in massive massive amounts. And again, I would not expect to see either scenario expect to happen (by itself) for a couple hundred thousand years. The problem we have now though will most certainly be accelerated because humans are adding to all this with our own CO2 emissions.
reply
It is interesting and very true that this can become the case but what I think they tend to leave out is time. It took roughly 2 billion years for the cyanobacteria to alter the atmosphere into the habitable zone humans can breath and live in, thats a long time for something so small to make a global change like that to the atmosphere. Another point is that while yes it is true that the extra CO2 can be used for plants and in theory will indeed aid their growth, the problem is that from an ecological standpoint this is still a disaster. A disaster because this will lead to a nutrient explosion creating a lot more life and once that CO2 runs out what will continue to feed the growth left behind by the extra CO2? Nothing, and so it will burn through that extra nutrient and die off in massive massive amounts. And again, I would not expect to see either scenario expect to happen (by itself) for a couple hundred thousand years. The problem we have now though will most certainly be accelerated because humans are adding to all this with our own CO2 emissions.
reply
Patrick
For the sake of argument, let's grant that everybody on Earth agrees that climate change / global warming is 100% real, and tell scientists, in one unanimous voice, We believe you!
What would be the response?
Recycle more aluminum cans?
Transform every government, corporation and culture on the planet overnight to stave off nothing, because all the ill-effects of global warming are already inevitable?
We told you so?
And what are the ill-effects exactly?
Worse storms here and there, and more coastal flooding than ten years ago. Oh noo! how can we possibly adapt to that over the next five hundred years!
reply
For the sake of argument, let's grant that everybody on Earth agrees that climate change / global warming is 100% real, and tell scientists, in one unanimous voice, We believe you!
What would be the response?
Recycle more aluminum cans?
Transform every government, corporation and culture on the planet overnight to stave off nothing, because all the ill-effects of global warming are already inevitable?
We told you so?
And what are the ill-effects exactly?
Worse storms here and there, and more coastal flooding than ten years ago. Oh noo! how can we possibly adapt to that over the next five hundred years!
reply
NatureImposter
Oh my God I had no idea that's so tragic and scary! It's almost like what the Earth started out like is what it's going to end like? A big hot barren ball in space. Kind of like Mars or Venus?
I've heard someone say that they're soul is from Mars and that we are from Mars and that we used to live on Mars and Mars used to be like Earth and we ruined it and then we had to start over here at Earth and it's like we're going to do it all over again as a species at least that's a theory with someone said they're past life was I forget the guy's name but some of you might know.
reply
Oh my God I had no idea that's so tragic and scary! It's almost like what the Earth started out like is what it's going to end like? A big hot barren ball in space. Kind of like Mars or Venus?
I've heard someone say that they're soul is from Mars and that we are from Mars and that we used to live on Mars and Mars used to be like Earth and we ruined it and then we had to start over here at Earth and it's like we're going to do it all over again as a species at least that's a theory with someone said they're past life was I forget the guy's name but some of you might know.
reply
Al
Bacteria is not the only thing frozen in the permafrost. It's century old viruses that are surfacing in the melt too, like humans and animals that were frozen for centuries and have not decayed do to the lack of sunlight and oxygen (permafrost is so cold there's little or no oxygen. Now they are starting to surface in the melt and bring their diseases back with them as they thaw. I even read that some scientists are cautioning that even the bubonic plague could thaw out from centuries old mass graves that have been frozen over keeping the buried from full decomposition.
reply
Bacteria is not the only thing frozen in the permafrost. It's century old viruses that are surfacing in the melt too, like humans and animals that were frozen for centuries and have not decayed do to the lack of sunlight and oxygen (permafrost is so cold there's little or no oxygen. Now they are starting to surface in the melt and bring their diseases back with them as they thaw. I even read that some scientists are cautioning that even the bubonic plague could thaw out from centuries old mass graves that have been frozen over keeping the buried from full decomposition.
reply
Joe
Short of decreasing greenhouse gases. My recommendation would be to monitor permafrost extent and then to plant trees, or plants which can capture a lot of carbon quickly, and generate a lot of oxygen, wherever the permafrost melts. Probably the best way to do this would be to make it available for farming/plantations so that it becomes a commercially driven effort. Heck. Import the people who want to cut down rain forests in South America for farms to start farming there.
reply
Short of decreasing greenhouse gases. My recommendation would be to monitor permafrost extent and then to plant trees, or plants which can capture a lot of carbon quickly, and generate a lot of oxygen, wherever the permafrost melts. Probably the best way to do this would be to make it available for farming/plantations so that it becomes a commercially driven effort. Heck. Import the people who want to cut down rain forests in South America for farms to start farming there.
reply
newton9837
Congratulations! You just debunked the antropogenic climate change theory or at the very least cast doubt on it. The CO2 release from soil as it thaws certainly makes the causation/correlation question a bit more murky. If scientists underestimate the rate of historic permafrost thaws, then some of the lag/lead assumptions on ice core date comes into question. With all due deference to a 90's kids television host, This is why climate change is not settled science.
reply
Congratulations! You just debunked the antropogenic climate change theory or at the very least cast doubt on it. The CO2 release from soil as it thaws certainly makes the causation/correlation question a bit more murky. If scientists underestimate the rate of historic permafrost thaws, then some of the lag/lead assumptions on ice core date comes into question. With all due deference to a 90's kids television host, This is why climate change is not settled science.
reply
Well,
. Then its a good thing the ice sheet is thickening by 0. 7 inches a year. No joke. Global warming? Climate change? Mmm. I don't think we're even close. If we are, it certainly isn't affecting the arctic as fast as some people like to claim.
I think we'll be just fine producing greenhouse gases for awhile, until we can find a better, more sustainable source of fuel. Even if that happens in 50-100 years from now. No need to panic.
reply
. Then its a good thing the ice sheet is thickening by 0. 7 inches a year. No joke. Global warming? Climate change? Mmm. I don't think we're even close. If we are, it certainly isn't affecting the arctic as fast as some people like to claim.
I think we'll be just fine producing greenhouse gases for awhile, until we can find a better, more sustainable source of fuel. Even if that happens in 50-100 years from now. No need to panic.
reply
Nandagopal
Fermafrost will thaw due to global warming. Thankfully human uses fossil fuels. The pollution will reflect more sunlight reducing global warming. More Carbon dioxide will lead to more growth of plants and cyanobacteria which will soak up all the carbon dioxide and cause another ice
age. Thus due to man burning fossil fuels global warming can be reduced.
reply
Fermafrost will thaw due to global warming. Thankfully human uses fossil fuels. The pollution will reflect more sunlight reducing global warming. More Carbon dioxide will lead to more growth of plants and cyanobacteria which will soak up all the carbon dioxide and cause another ice
age. Thus due to man burning fossil fuels global warming can be reduced.
reply
Eine
Areas have been in and out of permafrost time and time again. Ecosystems change so they can adapt to the new environment. I think that those plants you mentioned at the end of the video will regulate it. I'd be more worried about an ancient virus being unthawed killing us all as an indirect devastation from global warming rather than the actual temperature.
reply
Areas have been in and out of permafrost time and time again. Ecosystems change so they can adapt to the new environment. I think that those plants you mentioned at the end of the video will regulate it. I'd be more worried about an ancient virus being unthawed killing us all as an indirect devastation from global warming rather than the actual temperature.
reply
deeplook
I have a question. Isnt global warming another word for weather with bigger extremes so like the hot gets hotter and the cold get colder? If this is right then wouldnt that mean it would only thaw somewhat and refreeze similar to how stated in the video the top thaws in spring then goes back in whatever other month?
reply
I have a question. Isnt global warming another word for weather with bigger extremes so like the hot gets hotter and the cold get colder? If this is right then wouldnt that mean it would only thaw somewhat and refreeze similar to how stated in the video the top thaws in spring then goes back in whatever other month?
reply
ElusiveGaming
Now do a video on how every 500 million years the earth goes through a hot cycle until the poles flip and it gets cold again so we can scientifically disprove global warming.
Or explain how northern states keep getting colder and snowier every year and there's clearly global warming.
reply
Now do a video on how every 500 million years the earth goes through a hot cycle until the poles flip and it gets cold again so we can scientifically disprove global warming.
Or explain how northern states keep getting colder and snowier every year and there's clearly global warming.
reply
deeplook
I feel like this would be good for ocean life overall providing energy and nutrients to many life cycles. Anyways, any excess CO2 can be offset by using methanogenic archaea and H2 (from excess water) to make rocket fuel. Basically, the worst case scenario is we get more free rocket fuel.
reply
I feel like this would be good for ocean life overall providing energy and nutrients to many life cycles. Anyways, any excess CO2 can be offset by using methanogenic archaea and H2 (from excess water) to make rocket fuel. Basically, the worst case scenario is we get more free rocket fuel.
reply
Pinar
It is good to ask questions and research but coming to conclusion that the Earth is in danger due to a bacterial outgas would be a result of thinking very narrowly - as if we know all the variables of this planet and the universe so far and the only thing left was the bacteria.
reply
It is good to ask questions and research but coming to conclusion that the Earth is in danger due to a bacterial outgas would be a result of thinking very narrowly - as if we know all the variables of this planet and the universe so far and the only thing left was the bacteria.
reply
Ninfreak95
Kind of a foolish thought. Everywhere on the planet has bacteria in the soil. Any permafrost that melts will just end up doing to the atmosphere what any non frozen soil does right now. It will have bacteria, plants will grow, animals will move in, etc. It changes nothing.
reply
Kind of a foolish thought. Everywhere on the planet has bacteria in the soil. Any permafrost that melts will just end up doing to the atmosphere what any non frozen soil does right now. It will have bacteria, plants will grow, animals will move in, etc. It changes nothing.
reply
ananananamouse
im surprised the video didn't talk about a resurgence of some dormant viruses like what happened in siberia when there was an outbreak of anthrax from a thawed out deer carcass which killed 2000 reindeer and 13 people got sick
reply
im surprised the video didn't talk about a resurgence of some dormant viruses like what happened in siberia when there was an outbreak of anthrax from a thawed out deer carcass which killed 2000 reindeer and 13 people got sick
reply
Weirdo
So, lemme get this straight; The frozen dirt thaws, bacteria comes back to life like. Han Solo from carbonite. I guess. and then they eat dead plants. and. they fart, causing gas to come up to the surface? Killer Farts: The Fartening
reply
So, lemme get this straight; The frozen dirt thaws, bacteria comes back to life like. Han Solo from carbonite. I guess. and then they eat dead plants. and. they fart, causing gas to come up to the surface? Killer Farts: The Fartening
reply
im
i have come from the future as of september 18 2017 the world has not yet ended due to the melting of permafrost however the world is steadily devolving please change something back then so we can stop devolving and evolve
reply
i have come from the future as of september 18 2017 the world has not yet ended due to the melting of permafrost however the world is steadily devolving please change something back then so we can stop devolving and evolve
reply
Ging
As well as sickness and bacteria will b awoken such as small pocks and maybe some that's Hasent ever been intruduced to science. will we b able to come up with vacines in time or will it end humanity for good
reply
As well as sickness and bacteria will b awoken such as small pocks and maybe some that's Hasent ever been intruduced to science. will we b able to come up with vacines in time or will it end humanity for good
reply
deffdefying
So theoretically we might become a real life Schrodingers Cat:
In the future, we could be flourishing with plant life, or meeting our climate change demise.
Until that time, we are both.
reply
So theoretically we might become a real life Schrodingers Cat:
In the future, we could be flourishing with plant life, or meeting our climate change demise.
Until that time, we are both.
reply
jamesdagmond
Maybe if we didn't cut down so many trees, there would be something to absorb extra carbon. We need land for our selfish gain though, who cares about the future generations, am I right?
reply
Maybe if we didn't cut down so many trees, there would be something to absorb extra carbon. We need land for our selfish gain though, who cares about the future generations, am I right?
reply
Statistical
I liked that the fact that plants could offset 'some' of this, since many only state a feedback loop in one direction. Good science, even if it might embolden climate change deniers.
reply
I liked that the fact that plants could offset 'some' of this, since many only state a feedback loop in one direction. Good science, even if it might embolden climate change deniers.
reply
Samsamsamsam
Plants trapping the Carbon would be a good thing, also converting the CO2 to O2? Tropical rainforest above the artic circle in the north and also across a thawed out Antarctica?
reply
Plants trapping the Carbon would be a good thing, also converting the CO2 to O2? Tropical rainforest above the artic circle in the north and also across a thawed out Antarctica?
reply
DarkBlaze159
It's really amazing how the past can show us our future! The plants and bacteria were all buried in the past and now with their help, we can predict the future!
reply
It's really amazing how the past can show us our future! The plants and bacteria were all buried in the past and now with their help, we can predict the future!
reply
Shobith
I heard they found traces of the smallpox virus trapped in permafrost and scientists are worried that it's going to strike again because of climate change
reply
I heard they found traces of the smallpox virus trapped in permafrost and scientists are worried that it's going to strike again because of climate change
reply
Kirk
There is major high risk if moved but scientist want to
Thats a move up programe are they on anxiety it changes your brain functions
reply
There is major high risk if moved but scientist want to
Thats a move up programe are they on anxiety it changes your brain functions
reply
Diber
we can't do much about climate change because climate change is because of the fact that we chopped most of the rainforests
reply
we can't do much about climate change because climate change is because of the fact that we chopped most of the rainforests
reply
Big
So if there is no stopping this from happening how do we reverse it? Maybe make cars with gas that eat up green house gases?
reply
So if there is no stopping this from happening how do we reverse it? Maybe make cars with gas that eat up green house gases?
reply
SkylarGrey
So therefore climate change is natural, given that permafrost thawing and freezing has been happening for years?
reply
So therefore climate change is natural, given that permafrost thawing and freezing has been happening for years?
reply
education
I think the latter theory will prevail. The earth do what it do to survive baby! It's all one big closed loop!
reply
I think the latter theory will prevail. The earth do what it do to survive baby! It's all one big closed loop!
reply
A_Consumer_1138
. Dammm i don't really know what kills us all first. but im hoppin same one gets the whole gop first.
reply
. Dammm i don't really know what kills us all first. but im hoppin same one gets the whole gop first.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
