From the BBC: Methane seeps from Arctic sea-bed
Scientists have found that methane, usually trapped within the Arctic sea-bed as a "methane hydrate," an ice-like substance compose of water and methane, which is stable under high pressure and low temperature conditions, is being released from the seafloor sediment. This hydrate breaks down as temperatures rise, and "bubbles" of methane rising from the seabed indicate unstable conditions for this hydrate.
Thirty years ago, the methane hydrate was stable at depths as shallow as 360m, but recent data suggests it is now stable in depths over 400m. Temperature records indicate that the temperature in the sea off of Norway, where more than 250 plumes of methane bubbles are being released from the seafloor, has increased by 1 C during the past 30 years.
Scientists have noticed that the area of interest has been experiencing climate change at a rate faster than many other places in the world. It has been thought for a long time that if the oceans warm, hydrates within the sea floor may be released and contribute a positive greenhouse effect. The current research is attempting to determine whether this is something that's occuring in the region off of Norway in a relatively short timescale. Methane is released from the ocean floor elsewhere at higher temperatures and lower pressures, so it's possible that this has been occuring near Norway since the end of the last ice age.
The significant implications of this research are that the warming climate is causing methane to be released from more and deeper areas of the Arctic Ocean. The team wants to research further to observe the methane plumes and to determine their effect on the ocean and ultimately the atmosphere.
Scientists have found that methane, usually trapped within the Arctic sea-bed as a "methane hydrate," an ice-like substance compose of water and methane, which is stable under high pressure and low temperature conditions, is being released from the seafloor sediment. This hydrate breaks down as temperatures rise, and "bubbles" of methane rising from the seabed indicate unstable conditions for this hydrate.
Thirty years ago, the methane hydrate was stable at depths as shallow as 360m, but recent data suggests it is now stable in depths over 400m. Temperature records indicate that the temperature in the sea off of Norway, where more than 250 plumes of methane bubbles are being released from the seafloor, has increased by 1 C during the past 30 years.
Scientists have noticed that the area of interest has been experiencing climate change at a rate faster than many other places in the world. It has been thought for a long time that if the oceans warm, hydrates within the sea floor may be released and contribute a positive greenhouse effect. The current research is attempting to determine whether this is something that's occuring in the region off of Norway in a relatively short timescale. Methane is released from the ocean floor elsewhere at higher temperatures and lower pressures, so it's possible that this has been occuring near Norway since the end of the last ice age.
The significant implications of this research are that the warming climate is causing methane to be released from more and deeper areas of the Arctic Ocean. The team wants to research further to observe the methane plumes and to determine their effect on the ocean and ultimately the atmosphere.
