Around Antarctica, one of the most potent greenhouse gases is seeping out of the ocean floor. New research published in the journal Nature Communications shows numerous crevices where methane is escaping in the Ross Sea, an area located just off the northern coast of the continent.
Methane Trapped Beneath The Ocean Floor
Worldwide, there are massive reservoirs of methane that sit below the ocean floor. It has been trapped there for thousands of years, but can escape through fissures of the seabed. Then, tiny bubbles rise through the water, creating distinct marine environments but also increasing the amount of methane in the atmosphere.
Many questions remain about these underwater seeps, including where they happen, how many there are, and how much of the released methane actually reaches the atmosphere.
Methane is about 80…more
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