The Arctic permafrost has long been a concern in the context of climate change, as its thawing releases ancient carbon into the environment. This carbon, stored for thousands of years, can significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions if released into the atmosphere.
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Recent research based on sediment cores collected near Canada's Herschel Island reveals that most of the carbon released from thawing Arctic permafrost becomes trapped in the seabed, rather than being converted into greenhouse gases. The study indicates that only about 10 percent of the released carbon is metabolized by microbes into carbon dioxide or methane, which are potent greenhouse gases.
