THE QUICKENING

Does ocean methane pose a risk?

Methane trapped as hydrates in ocean floor sediments represents an important reservoir of carbon, an untapped energy source, and a potential “time bomb”. There is growing evidence that this methane has been and could again be released during times of rapid climate warming.

Now, using a new biomarker to examine historical records, researchers from the University of Bremen in Germany suggest that continuous and widespread methane release could have a profound and lasting effect on aquatic ecosystems and the carbon cycle.