Climate change: It turns out that squirrels did it indy100 indy100 Indy100 logoNewsletter sign upRegister/Sign inTop 100NewsViralPoliticsCelebritiesScience & TechVideoWishlistWishlistBooksFashion & BeautyFood & DrinkHome & GardenKidsSports & FitnessTechTravel & OutdoorsMoreScience & techVideoConversationsSportIdentitiesLifestyleShowbizTVSearchxScience & Tech
Climate change It turns out that squirrels did it
Matthew ChampionDec 17, 2014 Rapid industrialisation, population growth and air travel expansion have all been blamed for contributing to global warming and climate change. But now it appears we have something else to hold responsible. Squirrels. Yup, squirrels. American scientists believe the impact of wildlife upon the release of carbon from the permafrost that occupies around a quarter of the northern hemisphere has been underestimated. Dr Sue Natali, from Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts, and Nigel Golden, from the University of Wisconsin, spent eight days in the Kolyma River watershed in north-east Siberia, Russia, studying the burrows of arctic ground squirrels. They found that when squirrels made their burrows in the permafrost they mixed soil layers, increased aeration, moisture and temperature, as well as redistributing soil nutrients - all of which could contribute to an increased thawing of the permafrost and release of organic carbon. As the climate warms and permafrost thaws, the fate of this large [organic carbon] pool will be driven not only by climatic conditions, but also by ecosystem changes brought about by arctic animal populations.Natali and Golden The scientists, who are presenting their research at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco today, say they now plan on returning to Siberia to quantify just how much carbon could be released by burrowing squirrels. Keep reading...Show less Could ' adults-only' TikTok feature turn it into the new OnlyFans
Scientists shocked as black hole burps up star years after eating it
New discovery made on exoplanets where it could rain sapphires and rubies
Please log in or register to upvote this article Top 100
Liz Truss has resigned as prime minister - the best memes and reactions
liz trussprime ministerresignedmemesjokesliz truss15h The Daily Star' s lettuce officially outlasted Liz Truss
liz trussresignationlettucedaily starliz truss14h Liz Truss' s time as PM summed up with Taylor Swift song titles
liz trusstaylor swiftprime ministerliz truss13h Man endures ' 29 hour flight' with screaming kids for the entire trip
flightplanechildflightOct 12, 2022 Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna' s ' boiled egg' face
madonnamadonnalorraine kellygmbshowbizplastic surgeryOct 11, 2022 Elon Musk is actually selling a ' Burnt Hair' fragrance
elon muskthe boring companyperfumeelon muskburnt hairOct 12, 2022 Jon Stewart slams Arkansas attorney general for her ' anti-trans law'
lgbt+transgenderlgbt+jon stewartapple tvarkansasus newsnewsOct 11, 2022 Couple spark debate for ' scandalous' wedding cake topper
wedding caketiktokwedding cakeviralOct 12, 2022 Love Island star shows extent of how far influencers edit photos
Love IslandOct 11, 2022 Steven Seagal describes Putin as one of ' greatest world leaders'
steven seagalOct 10, 2022 Lizzo wears empowering shirt after being fat-shamed by Kanye West
lizzoOct 10, 2022 14 of the worst things the Tories did this week
liz trussOct 08, 2022 A lettuce just outlasted Liz Truss' stint as prime minister
Liz Truss14h Newsnight guest says ' you can' t treat mortgages like prime ministers'
Liz Truss19hThe Conversation (0)