Ocean water warming was previously thought to be the cause of the hydrate melt in this particular area. But the study in Nature Communications suggests otherwise.
“Our investigations show that uplift of the sea floor in this region, caused by the melting of the ice masses since the end of the last ice age, is probably the reason for the dissolution of methane hydrate.” says first author of the study Professor Klaus Wallmann at GEOMAR.
Read more at CAGE - Center for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Climate and Environment
Image: Gas hydrates are formed under cold temperature and high pressure conditions beneath the ocean floor. They contain large amounts of greenhouse gas methane. (Credit: CAGE)