As soil temperatures rise, more carbon stored for thousands of years is released. These microbes, once thought to contribute to increased methane emissions, are now seen in a different light, potentially reshaping the future of the global climate.
Microbes in the layers of permafrost metabolize carbon, converting it into carbon dioxide and methane, a greenhouse gas much more potent than carbon dioxide.
While the world watches the rapid changes in the Arctic as one of the most prominent indicators of global warming, recent scientific research reveals an unexpected role for microorganisms living in Arctic soils.
