Antarctic Methane and Climate Change
New methane leaks have been discovered in the Ross Sea, on the edge of Antarctica, alarming scientists with the rate at which they are occurring.
A recent study published in Nature Communications and cited by CNN suggests that the phenomenon is intensifying as the region warms, raising questions about the underestimation of current global warming predictions.
Methane, an invisible but highly polluting gas, traps about 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide in the first two decades of its existence in the atmosphere.
Researchers were aware of huge methane reserves under the seabed, but the recent leaks in Antarctica indicate a major shift in the climate balance.
Author's summary: Methane leaks in Antarctica accelerate climate change.