The thawing permafrost creates a so-called positive feedback loop in the Arctic.

The more the permafrost thaws, the more carbon dioxide and methane are released into the atmosphere.

It raises the temperature of the earth and the permafrost can thaw even faster.

- The warming causes more warming, says Hanna Lee, biologist at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

Everywhere north of the Arctic Circle, new lakes are therefore being formed.

When permafrost and ice below the ground surface thaws, depressions are formed that fill with water.

Then the lakes begin to release fossil methane gas that rises through the earth, appearing as bubbles on the surface.

May need to reduce our emissions even more

Emissions from thawing permafrost are now included in carbon budgets.

But some climate scientists believe that the positive feedback is not sufficiently taken into account and that models are missing important data.

If a warmer Arctic releases more carbon than estimated, it will be difficult to reach the targets.

Then further reduced emissions are required than those determined in the Paris Agreement in 2015.

- There is a nasty joker in the game.

There are huge amounts of methane and natural gas in and under the permafrost, says ecologist Katey Walter Anthony.

Some lakes in Alaska are leaking so much methane gas that it's even flammable.

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Methane-chasing researchers release gas – and almost burn themselves Photo: SVT/Vetenskapens värld

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