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Arctic Sinkholes

In the Arctic, enormous releases of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, threaten the climate.

  • Fred Vigeant

Colossal explosions shake a remote corner of the Siberian tundra, leaving behind massive craters.

In Alaska, a huge lake erupts with bubbles of inflammable gas. Scientists are discovering that these mystifying phenomena add up to a ticking time bomb, as long-frozen permafrost melts and releases vast amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

What are the implications of these dramatic developments in the Arctic? Scientists and local communities alike are struggling to grasp the scale of the methane threat and what it means for our climate future.

Watch NOVA Arctic Sinkholes Wednesday, February 2 at 9pm on WITF or through the PBS Video app.

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