Methane Risks Accelerating Climate Warming: From Clathrates in Antarctica to Industrial Site Leakage

Methane Risks Accelerating Climate Warming: From Clathrates in Antarctica to Industrial Site Leakage Methane hydrates (clathrates) have been recently mapped in Antarctica, and researches observed methane plumes in the water column as long as 700 meters and 70 meters wide. Please donate to http://PaulBeckwith.net to support my research and video connecting the dots on abrupt climate system mayhem. New article: Massive methane leaks detected in Antarctica, posing potential risks for global warming Feb 12, 2025 https://english.elpais.com/climate/2025-02-12/massive-methane-leaks-detected-in-antarctica-posing-potential-risks-for-global-warming.html#frimfvy3zcbchnkoq2eeeg1mpdua6rfst Perplexity.ai query: What is the GWP of methane at various timescales? https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-is-the-gwp-of-methane-at-NQZDm3r9QWCmaofn9Jv.3A 20-year timescale: Methane has a GWP of approximately 83–84, meaning it is 83–84 times more effective at trapping heat than CO₂ over this period145. 100-year timescale: The GWP of methane is typically cited as 27–30, with variations depending on whether oxidation effects are included135. 500-year timescale: Methane's GWP decreases to about 7–10, reflecting its breakdown into CO₂ and water over time15. These values highlight methane's significant short-term impact on global warming, which diminishes over longer periods due to its shorter atmospheric lifetime compared to CO₂. Perplexity.ai query: How much of global warming is presently due to methane? https://www.perplexity.ai/search/how-much-of-global-warming-is-wmHuR2VnSwyKkgH9bJdMyQ Methane is responsible for approximately 25% to 30% of the global warming experienced today. This potent greenhouse gas traps significantly more heat than carbon dioxide over short timeframes, making it a critical driver of near-term climate change. Methane's contribution stems from both natural sources (e.g., wetlands) and human activities, with agriculture, fossil fuels, and waste being the largest anthropogenic sources News article: Feb 16, 2025 Immense Methane Leaks Discovered in Antarctica: The Emerging Threat of Antarctic Methane Hydrates https://www.phantomecology.com/post/immense-methane-leaks-discovered-in-antarctica-the-emerging-threat-of-antarctic-methane-hydrates New study preprint article (before peer review, for rapid publication) Title: Dynamics of the gas hydrate system of the Pacific margin of the Antarctic Peninsula Abstract Gas hydrates are highly sensitive to tectonic and climate-induced perturbations (e.g., relative changes in sea level and temperature), particularly in polar regions where the upslope limit of the stability field occurs in relatively shallow waters. Gas hydrates in the Pacific margin of the Antarctic Peninsula are pervasive and their base manifest as a negative polarity Bottom Simulating Reflector, the so-called BSR, in seismic reflection data. This study integrates legacy reflection seismic, bathymetric, oceanographic and heat flow data to update the gas hydrate volume, investigate trends and spatial variations that could point to transient processes in the gas hydrate system, and determine the factors that control gas hydrate dynamics. The BSR is widespread between Elephant and King George Island between 500 and 4000 m water depth and 200 to 750 m below seafloor respectively. It occupies an area of 5,193 km2 and is associated to an estimated methane volume of ~4.68 × 1013 m3 at standard pressure and temperature (~23.9 GtC). The BSR depth is 200-400 m deeper than the theoretically expected depth considering the geothermal gradient recorded in the continental slope (100 ± 3044 °C/km), and results in a BSR-derived geothermal gradient of 34  13 °C/km. Such depth mismatch cannot result from overpressure, gas composition, salinity of interstitial fluids or ongoing uplift. Given the lack of heat flow measurements directly above the gas hydrate area, a potential explanation is that heat flux is buffered by endothermic cooling in the gas hydrate. This preprint research paper has not been peer reviewed. BBC article: Why detecting methane is difficult but crucial work https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2w51kg8ldo Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) https://www.unep.org/topics/energy/methane/international-methane-emissions-observatory/methane-alert-and-response-system UN Report: Invisible but not unseen: How data-driven tools can turn the tide on methane emissions – if we use them https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/46541/eye_on_methane_2024_invisible_but_not_unseen.pdf?sequence=3 Carbon Mapper https://carbonmapper.org/ https://data.carbonmapper.org/#12.23/32.05376/-103.90989 Please donate to http://PaulBeckwith.net to support my research and video connecting the dots on abrupt climate system mayhem.