Climate Change: UBC researcher raises serious concerns about methane release from melting glaciers

Shrinking glaciers caused by human-induced climate change are causing the release of tonnes of methane gas, according to a new international study that involves the University of B.C.

The study, published this week in the journal Nature Geoscience and led by University of Cambridge and the University Center in Svalbard, Norway, raises serious concerns about hidden sources of emissions, and suggests these emissions be included in climate change calculations.

Co-author Dr. Hal Bradbury, a professor in UBC’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, says as the planet warms up, disappearing glaciers are causing the formation of bubbling groundwater springs, which are releasing trapped reservoirs of subsurface methane.

He said scientists are worried these emissions released by the Arctic thaw could exacerbate the climate crisis.

The researchers measured methane concentrations from 120 separate springs over three summers in Svalbard, and estimate emissions could exceed 2,000 tonnes annually just from Svalbard.