'Widespread methane leakage' from ocean floor off US coast (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC News

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.
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more: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28898223

[PoutrageFatigue]

1. Are they sure it's not just more hot air from Chris Christie?

[Nihil]

2. "Progress!", "Growth!" ...

> Researchers say they have found more than 500 bubbling methane vents on the seafloor off the US east coast.
> ...
> Previous surveys along the Atlantic seaboard have shown only three seep areas ...


You know how people were pleased that the Atlantic was absorbing so much more than the models
had predicted? I think we might be seeing a teensy bit of "model adjustment" here ...

Positive feedback FTW!

[arachadillo]

3. Methane seeps

Another source says "research doesn't suggest a huge increase in methane emissions to the atmosphere"
http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2014/08/widespread-methane-leakage-found-on-us-atlantic-coast/

however, examining new seeps will help map methane migration and rates of migration. All that will help shore up methane migration, and rates of methane migration studies where it really counts in the Arctic polar regions