As permafrost soil thaw, soil microbes amplify global climate change

As permafrost soil thaw, soil microbes amplify global climate change

Written By The University of Arizona

Date Published: October 22, 2014

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141022131434.htm

Summary:

Earlier this year, a group of scientists discovered a microbe that is extremely prominent in the permafrost. Researchers across the world believe that this microbe is a primary reason for the effects of climate change by releasing vast amounts of carbon in the form of methane. The scientific community has named this microbe as "Methanoflorens Stordalenmirensis" which means methane bloomer, but the real role is still unknown. Microbes generally release methane in two different ways. One is through an organic molecule that comes from plants, and the other is from carbon dioxide and hydrogen. This discovery challenges scientists to understand as to how soil microbes release methane in the environment and the threat that they pose. The climate model as of now uses the ratio between different isotopes of carbon in methane to determine the amount of carbon and methane released. In conclusion, scientists have realized that microbiology in ecology is a key player in the effects of climate change.

How this relates to class:
In class, we have studied the various biomes and how each biome plays a specific role in the biosphere. We learned about the greenhouse gas emissions and global warming which ties in to the article. We also learned about how theories and conclusions are changed very often and this article skillfully illustrates how the causes for global warming change so frequently. in addition, we learned about methane and how it plays a role in warming the earth as well as learning about the ozone layer and the effects of climate change. Next, we learned about how organisms change and react to different environmental changes and these microbes are a great example of adaptations. Finally, we learned about water's special property about how it is possible for life to survive underneath frozen ice and is the reason why these microbes were able to survive underneath the permafrost. These are the different ways for how this article relates to what we are learning in class.