Methane release caused transition from “snowball earth”

Scientists funded by the National Science Foundation say the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from melting ice sheets 635 million years ago caused dramatic climate change, according to a recent Nature article. Geologist Martin Kennedy of the University of California at Riverside stated in the article that this discharge of methane ended an ice age and allowed for a stable, warm climate on earth. Kennedy also said that “Today we're conducting a global-scale experiment with Earth's climate system” that parallels the past methane release, “and witnessing an unprecedented rate of warming.” Full story: Environmental News Network