Global warming is sped up by rising temperatures
January 28th, 2010 Posted in NewsScientists from the University of Edinburgh and The Netherlands Institute for Space Research have discovered that rising temperatures due to climate change are resulting in greater global warming. This effect is caused by an increased production of methane from wetland areas, which are the world’s largest source of the greenhouse gas.
The researchers used satellite measurements of the atmospheric concentration of methane and changes in surface water, as well as data on surface temperature. They found that methane output from wetland areas increased by 7 per cent from 2003-2007 in line with rising temperatures. The research also highlighted the emissions from wetland areas that are most sensitive to flooding or temperature fluctuations.
These findings, published in Science, may help scientists to predict future climate change.
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- Laura Bailey
