Re:Alaska’s Permafrost Is Thawing
by singularity2001 on Friday August 25, 2017 @05:02PM
(#15102228)
As others stated the negative consequences most likely outweigh the benefits (by far). Just for those who want to enter their weekend joyfully here is a list of possible positive outcomes:
* Siberia and Alaska become huge new areas for plantations.
* Siberia and Alaska become habitable, wonderful nature reserves with Mammoths roaming about.
* Due to rising CO2 levels plants grow faster and bigger
* Due to rising temperatures the earth gets much wetter[0]
* If you are lucky you might even witness the re-greening of the Sahara (not predicted by most simulations though?)
* improved access to minerals on the ocean bed
* increased fishing near Arctic
* ice-free shipping lanes.
To limit your euphoria: the situation is much more dire for the Oceans. Also the system gets more chaotic with consequences spelled out and unforeseen.
[0] A parcel of air that is near saturation may contain 28 grams of water per cubic meter of air at 30 °C, but only 8 grams of water per cubic meter of air at 8 °C.
* Siberia and Alaska become huge new areas for plantations. * Siberia and Alaska become habitable, wonderful nature reserves with Mammoths roaming about. * Due to rising CO2 levels plants grow faster and bigger * Due to rising temperatures the earth gets much wetter[0] * If you are lucky you might even witness the re-greening of the Sahara (not predicted by most simulations though?) * improved access to minerals on the ocean bed * increased fishing near Arctic * ice-free shipping lanes.
To limit your euphoria: the situation is much more dire for the Oceans. Also the system gets more chaotic with consequences spelled out and unforeseen.
[0] A parcel of air that is near saturation may contain 28 grams of water per cubic meter of air at 30 °C, but only 8 grams of water per cubic meter of air at 8 °C.