The 2020 heatwave that occurred during the summer in Siberia led to an increase in methane gas emissions from limestones, an event that could lead to Earth's atmosphere getting hit with a 'methane bomb.'.

The summer 2020 heatwave in Siberia led to an increase in methane gas emissions from limestones, which could result in a 'methane bomb'.

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, methane has 80 times the warming power that carbon dioxide does over the first 20 years it hits the atmosphere

It is mostly found in high-latitude regions like the Arctic, and stores large quantities of carbon dioxide and methane, which are released into the atmosphere if the soil melts and decomposes. 

Previous research suggested that a thawing of the permafrost would contribute to a rise of 'only' 0.2 degrees Celsius by 2100 and would not lead to the aforementioned 'methane bomb,' but the new study challenges that assumption. 

In July 2020, a separate group of experts found that increased permafrost melt could result in microbes releasing 40 billion more tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than previously thought

Permafrost, mostly found in high-latitude regions like the Arctic, stores large quantities of carbon dioxide and methane, which are released into the atmosphere if the soil melts and decomposes. 

As permafrost melts and releases gases into the atmosphere which cause warming, permafrost melts even more, releasing more of these gases such as methane and CO2, leading a positive feedback loop that worsens climate change. 

As permafrost melts and releases gases into the atmosphere which cause warming, permafrost melts even more, releasing more of these gases such as methane and CO2, leading a positive feedback loop that worsens climate change