Scientists have detected significant methane emissions seeping through cracks in the Antarctic seafloor, raising new concerns about greenhouse gas releases in a rapidly warming region. The findings, published in Nature Communications, show methane escaping at high rates from the Ross Sea, suggesting the phenomenon may be widespread rather than isolated.
A Potent Greenhouse Gas Emerging from the Deep
Methane, described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a “super pollutant,” is responsible for about a third of human-caused global warming and is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Researchers observed streams of methane bubbles rising from fissures beneath the seabed using acoustic surveys and remotely operated vehicles in Northern Victoria Land and McMurdo Sound.
Warming Linked to Seafloor Seepage
The Ross Sea leaks appear in regions rich in hydrocarbons and are likely influenced by warming temperatures and melting ice. As ice sheets and glaciers lose mass, the resulting drop in pressure can destabilize methane reservoirs beneath the seafloor, accelerating gas discharge. Similar processes have been observed in the Arctic, where tens of thousands of methane seeps have been documented.
Uncertain Role, Urgent Need for Study
While scientists have long known of methane reserves beneath oceans, the scale and impact of Antarctic emissions remain unclear. Researchers emphasized the importance of further study to understand how these leaks could affect global climate, especially as the Antarctic undergoes rapid ice loss and environmental change.
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