Methane leak found on Antarctic sea floor

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. Now, researchers from Oregon State University have found it leaking from the Antarctic sea floor under the Ross Sea.

Previously, scientists believed that if there were undersea methane leaks, micro-organisms would feed on the gas before it could reach the atmosphere. However, this recent finding shows that this isn’t necessarily the case.

If micro-organisms don’t consume the gas, then escaping methane may contribute to global warming.

Read more in English:

https://www.sciencealert.com/there-s-a-strange-methane-leak-from-antarctica-s-sea-floor-and-it-s-not-good-news

Lire plus en francais :

https://www.courrierinternational.com/article/rechauffement-climatique-une-fuite-active-de-methane-decouverte-dans-les-fonds-marins-autour

Photo prise le 20 janvier 2016 dans la mer de Ross, bordant l’Antarctique. Samuel Blanc / Biosphoto / via AFP