Around the world Quote by Thom Hartmann
““Dickens knew there were vast reserves of methane hydrate trapped frozen in sea-beds all around the world and wondered what would happen if a lot of that frozen methane on the sea floor had melted from a solid into a gas, and bubbled up from the ocean’s depths? Would it be enough to account for the “signature” of carbon-12 that geologists were finding in the rocks associated with the Permian Mass Extinction? So he went back to the lab and melted frozen methane in water warm enough. The results were dramatic. The gas not only dissolved into the water, but it also rose up out of the water and into the air. Dickens published a paper in 1999 suggesting that a 5 degree Celsius increase in ocean temperatures would have been adequate to melt enough methane hydrate crystals to create the Permian carbon-12 signature. And such a massive release of methane, itself a greenhouse gas vastly more potent than CO2, would also trigger a catastrophic, swift warming of the planet.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Methane Hydrate Theory, 1999
Dickens hypothesized that warming oceans could release methane hydrates, causing rapid climate change and the Permian extinction signature.
In simple terms: Warming oceans may trigger massive methane release, accelerating climate change.
Key Takeaway
Monitor ocean temperatures to prevent catastrophic releases.
Themes
climate change
geology
science
history
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- environmental policy
- research funding
- educational curricula
- public awareness
Key Concepts
feedback loops
catastrophic risk
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence supports methane hydrate impact?
- How can societies mitigate sudden climate spikes?
A Different Perspective
Methane release is one factor among many; other variables also matter.
![“Because nitrous oxide [released by nitrate-fertilised soil] is 296 times stronger than COâ‚‚ at global warming and methane [cow farts] is about 26 times as potent as COâ‚‚, the combined greenhouse effect of our livestock worldwide is greater than the sum total of all the cars, trains, busses…” quote by Thom Hartmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/143/thom-hartmann-13946_airplane_because-nitrous-oxide-released-by-nitrat_602219.jpg)
