融化的永凍土可能有助於吸收二氧化碳
Thawing permafrost may help absorb carbon dioxide
Updated at: June 21, 2026 at 01:00 AM
多年來，科學家一直將融化的永凍土視為「定時炸彈」。
For years, scientists have viewed thawing permafrost as a 'ticking time bomb.'
其邏輯很簡單：當凍結了數千年的地面變暖時，微生物會分解古老的有機物質，將大量的二氧化碳和甲烷釋放到大氣中。
The logic was straightforward: as ground that has been frozen for millennia warms, microbes decompose ancient organic matter, releasing massive amounts of CO2 and methane into the atmosphere.
這創造了一個危險的反饋循環，進一步加劇了全球暖化。
This creates a dangerous feedback loop, further accelerating global warming.
然而，最近針對青藏高原的研究表明，情況要複雜得多。
However, recent research on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau suggests the story is more complex.
科學家發現，隨著永凍土融化，它會使新鮮的岩石礦物暴露在自然環境中。
Scientists have discovered that as permafrost thaws, it exposes fresh rock minerals to the elements.
這會觸發一種稱為化學風化的過程，水和空氣與這些礦物相互作用，將二氧化碳從大氣中拉出來。
This triggers a process called chemical weathering, where water and air interact with these minerals to pull CO2 out of the atmosphere.
雖然這是一個令人著迷的發現，但專家強調，這並非氣候變遷的「解藥」。
While this is a fascinating discovery, experts emphasize that it is not a 'cure' for climate change.
相反，這一發現突顯了我們的氣候模型需要超越生物衰變，並將地質過程納入考量，以便更好地理解地球脆弱的碳循環。
Instead, the finding highlights that our climate models need to look beyond biological decay and account for geological processes to better understand the Earth’s delicate carbon cycle.
