© предоставлено пресс-службой ТПУ TOMSK, Sep 29 – RIA Tomsk. Scientists of
Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) during the expedition to the Arctic
registered increase in emissions of methane, which speaks about destruction of
underwater permafrost, the press service of the university reports on Thursday.
As it was reported earlier, this process accelerates global warming on Earth.
© РИА Томск. Павел Стефанский
Earlier it was reported that TPU
scientists participate in the international researches of the processes
happening in the shelf of the polar seas of Eastern Siberia where there are
more than 90% of underwater permafrost and a large amount of hydrocarbons. They
found out that underwater permafrost is unstable and from under it there are
methane emissions which accelerate global warming and can lead to disaster.
It is specified that the 40-day Arctic
expedition on the flagman vessel of the Far East research fleet "Academician
M. A. Lavrentyev" started on September 24. It passes under the leadership
of professor of the Tomsk Polytechnic University Igor Semiletov. The expedition
continues a number of long-term observations of polytechnicians in the seas of
East Arctic. Scientists pay special attention to degradation of underwater
permafrost as to a factor of emission of methane in the atmosphere.
"The area of distribution of zones of
metane megaemissions ("vultures") considerably increased in
comparison with the data obtained during the period from 2011 to 2014. Such
observations can demonstrate increase in speed of degradation of underwater
permafrost", – quoted in the message Semiletov.
It is noted that on the basis of TPU the
collaboration of 15 world universitiesis which are engaged in studying of the
Arctic are formed. Experts found out that the reliable ice "stopper"
interfering an exit of gas hydrates today "was worn out", and there are
emissions of methane in the atmosphere. A task of scientists – is to define
amount of the methane buried in the areas of the Arctic and to study its
influence on climatic system.
It is added that results of an expedition
will become a significant contribution to development of strategy of further
researches of the seas of East Arctic. They will be discussed at the
international conference in TPU on November 21-24 where scientists from 12
universities and institutes of Russia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Great Britain
and Italy will take part.