Soils in lowlands will release methane, another, much more potent greenhouse gas.

Thawed soils will take up carbon dioxide, form organic layers, lowering global warming.

The consequence is that climate change is likely to progress faster and accelerated.

This process leads to further CO2 being released into the atmosphere due to microbial decomposition of previously frozen soil carbon.

Landslides and earth movements, releasing previously frozen soil carbon into rivers and into the atmosphere.