Russia fears climate catastrophe in Arctic
Global warming could bring “terrible destruction” in the Russian North, the country’s Ministry of Emergency Situations admits.
First deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, Mr. Ruslan Tsalikov, says global warming could bring “catastrophic destruction” in the northern parts of country by 2030.
According to RIA Novosti, the melting of the permafrost could pose a major threat against northern airports, as well as underground reservoirs of oil and gas.
Only a one-two degree warming will reduce the firmness of the permafrost with as much as 50 percent, the deputy minister says. He adds that already today, the thickness of the permafrost is reduced by about four centimetres per year and that the permafrost zone over the next 20 years is expected to move 80 km north.
Mr. Tsalikov also says the climate change will increase the chances of flooding and that major amounts of metan might be released from the ground.
The high-ranking official underlines to RIA Novosti that the primary job for the authorities will now be to help secure living conditions for the people living in the affected area. In the near future, two research expeditions will head towards Novaya Zemlya, Novosibir islands and several other sites along the coast of the Arctic ocean to study the situation.
Read also:
Global warming threatens permafrost 13 June 2008
Permafrost melting along Russia’s northern coast 19 January 2007
