I read an article recently which stated that scientists recently discovered that a huge global warming event took place about 635 million years ago. It was caused by the sudden release of methane into the atmosphere, a gas which is about 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its global warming capabilities. 635 millions years ago, this release led a cold, stable climate to suddenly become a warm, stable climate, with little time in between the two states.
Scientists are now looking for the trigger or tipping point which caused this to occur. It’s important since the current global warming trend may have a tipping point as well. For example, with current warming trends, are we near the tipping point at which melting ice will cause an increase in the rate polar ice caps are melting, resulting in huge amounts of greenhouse gases being released in the air? If there is methane and other large amounts of trapped greenhouse gases in the Arctic permafrost and ice caps, reaching this tipping point may cause the planet to warm up by tens of degrees.
I won’t go into the details of what an ugly situation this will be if it happens, but I will tell you this is one heck of a scary thought. Even for those who don’t believe in global warming, it’s like playing Russian Roulette to me. Do you really want to take the “small” chance the chamber you’re betting on isn’t loaded? If you can avoid the risk in the first place, why not I say!
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