Research being conducted along the Bay of Alaska has revealed that watersheds in the areas of melting glaciers receive organic matter which had been previously trapped by the ice. This organic matter (which could be as old as 4,000 years and is thought to have orginated from forests which were entrapped by glacial ice) is then bioavailable to bacteria for consumption. As these bacteria die and decompose, more biodegradable dissolved carbon is then available.
This phenomenon would be in opposition to those who believe that our global, finite supply of carbon is disappearing due to climate change, but the net benefit is probably small.
If you would like to read more about this research please do so here:
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/
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