2 July 2009, Reuters

Melting permafrost in Northern Russia, Canada, the Nordic Countries and Northern US is a growing concern, says Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project. Research shows that the amount of carbon stored in soils surrounding the North pole is highly underestimated, and with rapid melting, this carbon will be released and result in accelerated global warming. Projections show that all near-surface permafrost will disappear by the end of the century, exposing large carbon and methane stores.

Full article here.