Why can methane released by thawing permafrost increase global warming?

Thawing permafrost contributes to global warming through a self-reinforcing positive feedback loop. As permafrost thaws, it releases methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into the atmosphere.1

This process occurs in two primary ways:
* Decomposition: Microorganisms break down organic matter, such as ancient plants and animals that were previously frozen in the soil, releasing methane as a byproduct.1
* Gas Release: Thawing creates cracks and fissures in the ground that connect the surface to deeper, methane-filled gas pockets, allowing the gas to escape.1

Methane is roughly 25 times more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide by volume. Once in the atmosphere, this methane absorbs heat energy and reradiates it back to Earth’s surface, raising global temperatures. These higher temperatures subsequently accelerate the rate of permafrost thawing, which in turn liberates even more methane, further intensifying the warming cycle.1