[Skywise]

Full story at: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28898223

Brian

Quote:'Widespread methane leakage' from ocean floor off US coast

Researchers say they have found more than 500 bubbling methane vents on the seafloor off the US east coast.

The unexpected discovery indicates there are large volumes of the gas contained in a type of sludgy ice called methane hydrate.

There are concerns that these new seeps could be making a hitherto unnoticed contribution to global warming.

The scientists say there could be about 30,000 of these hidden methane vents worldwide.

Previous surveys along the Atlantic seaboard have shown only three seep areas beyond the edge of the US continental shelf.

[Island Chris]

Thanks Brian,

I forwarded to IW (Island Wife), who will certainly be interested. I was co-PI with her on an unsuccessful proposal to study the base of frozen methane in the sub-sea floor, off the mid Atlantic (USA) coast, on the slope.

Not working on this these days.

Chris

[Skywise]

(08-25-2014, 04:23 AM)Island Chris Wrote: Thanks Brian,

You're welcome. I was thinking of you when I saw that story, hence why I posted.

Something that's fascinated me about hydrates is the possibility that they could be the cause of some Bermuda Triangle ship disappearances. The hypothesis goes that a large region of hydrates has been decomposing and the methane is trapped below the sediments. When it has built to a sufficient level it breaks through all at once, bubbling to the surface. The mass of "fizzy pop" is low in density therefore ships just sink right down, potentially in mere seconds. No chance to report or call for help.

A TV show I saw tested this idea in a swimming pool, using a air nozzles on the bottom and a model of a tanker. It sank very quick.

I've noticed that my ice cubes stay on the bottom of the glass when I pour soda. When the fizzing settles down enough, all of a sudden they all pop up.

Brian