Studies on the ground and from the air found one hundred fifty thousand seeps -- places in Alaska and Greenland where methane had escaped. The seeps were found in lakes along the edges of ice cover.
SHIRLEY GRIFFITH: The study appeared in the journal Nature Geoscience. It showed that some of the seeps are freeing ancient methane. The source may be natural gas or coal deposits beneath the lakes.
Other seeps release more recently formed gas. The newer methane may have formed when plant material in the lakes broke down into basic elements.
Another scientist involved in methane research described the Arctic area as the fastest-warming area on Earth. Euan Nisbet from the University of London said the area has many methane sources that will increase as the temperature rises. He says there is a serious concern that the warming could cause more warming.
Some scientists believe the effects of the freeing of methane will not be seen for many years. Others note that the possibility of a fast methane release could speed up rising temperatures on Earth.
(MUSIC)
BOB DOUGHTY: An American program called the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief helps millions of people infected with HIV, the virus responsible for AIDS. PEPFAR is considered one of the most successful programs created during the presidency of George W. Bush. Its goal was to change HIV/AIDS from a death sentence to a disease that, while serious, could be treated. And for millions of people around the world, that is just what happened.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25