Scientists discover a methane leak in the waters of the Antarctic.

Recently, scientists have encountered a leak that contained methane in the Antarctic. Very few will question how a potent greenhouse gas can find its way to the icy waters of the Arctic, and the reason is microbes. Microbes or microorganisms like fungi and bacteria, to name a few, can be found everywhere, and they are beneficial to the environment. Not only do they recycle plant and animal matter, but they also recycle wastes. They are even liable for supplying adequate sums of oxygen into the Earth’s atmosphere, and they play a significant role in our lives as humans and animals as well. The microorganisms found in our bodies are coined as “normal flora” or “resident flora,” control the making of vitamins and nutrients we take in a while helping us to digest our food. Microorganisms have an impact on the medical field and the world of technology.

However, do not be fooled; microbes in our bodies can also cause us to fall ill with infectious diseases such as measles, cold, chickenpox, influenza, and many more that are caused by bacterium, fungus, virus, and protozoan.

It is no shock to anyone that global warming is dominating the world right now, precisely in the Polar regions. While cases of COVID-19 have plummeted in some parts of the world who have taken precautions seriously, unlike the United States(we don’t know her), glaciers have been melting, and climate has been changing. Arctic animals like polar bears, walruses, and seals are suffering and are finding it hard to hunt without less sea ice, making it harder for them to find food. Most marine ecosystems are suffering as well as the arctic animals.

It blows my mind that some people have no concern for the environment. How many times can you “accidentally” mistake the trashcan for the recycling bin? I know that I’ve used that excuse many times when throwing trash out because I was lazy, and I didn’t care about the three R’s that I had learned in science class in my third year at elementary school. But, I grew up, learned from my mistakes, educated myself on why it is crucial to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Most people already know that if something that is non-recyclable ends up in the trashcan, it ends up in a landfill, and it decomposes, producing methane. Methane is burned and gets used as a source of energy for electricity and heat, warming the atmosphere.

It is common for methane hydrates to appear since the decadence of algae occurs. However, the methane in the ocean is prevented from leaking into the atmosphere, but this is not the case for the Ross Island of Antarctica. Unfortunately, the microbes were unable to consume methane.

Microbes that are found in any body of water on the planet aren’t as effective as the ones in Antarctica; Microbes found in The Ice grows a slower rate, stemming in a leak.

Last month in June 2020, Siberia consumed 246 million forest fires, if not more, covering 1.15 million hectares and releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Permafrost, specifically Yedoma, is beginning to thaw, releasing greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If the cycle continues, it could place havoc on the ecosystem and the global climate.

Currently, temperatures are arising in Siberia. As of Saturday in a town, located on the Yana River in the Arctic Cycle, Verkhoyansk, of 38 degrees Celsius, which converts to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. This high temperature is detrimental to the environment, in general, not to mention the oil spill, Siberia had in May also being a contributor because of the heat.

I understand that the world is on the brink of civil war and a pandemic, and we, humans, can only emphasize on one problem at a time, but we also need to shift our focus on this matter because it affects the world that we’re living in. Our planet may be falling apart, but there is hope. If we act now, we can prevent the chances of there being another methane leak in the Arctic.