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Jeff Chanton, the John W. Winchester Professor of Oceanography at Florida State University, says methane seeps may raise the sea levels.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The ancient reserves of methane gas seeping from the melting Arctic ice cap told Jeff Chanton and fellow researchers what they already knew: As the permafrost thaws, there is a release of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that causes climate warming.
The trick was figuring out how much, said Chanton, the John W. Winchester Professor of Oceanography at Florida State University.
The four-member team — whose findings were published in the respected journal Nature Geoscience (http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/ngeo1480.html) — documented a large number of gas seep sites in the Arctic where permafrost is thawing and glaciers receding (they found 77 previously undocumented seep sites, comprising 150,000 vents to the atmosphere). Until recently, the cryosphere (frozen soil and ice) has served to plug or block these vents. But thawing conditions have allowed the conduits to open, and deep geologic methane now escapes.
The team studied the link between natural gas seepage and the melting ice cap, using aerial photos and field data to figure out the number — and location — of seep holes.
So, here's the rub: The more the ice cap melts, the more methane is released into the atmosphere — and the more the climate warms.
Why should this matter to you?
People who live in coastal areas in Florida could be directly affected, said Chanton, who analyzed the methane and dated it to more than 40,000 years old.
All this seeping methane causes more melting ice, Chanton said, which causes sea levels to rise and could affect coastal real estate values — sooner rather than later.
How soon?
Possibly over the next 50 to 100 years, Chanton said.
"Methane is a very strong greenhouse gas that's grown three times faster than carbon dioxide since the industrial era," Chanton said. "As the Arctic warms, the ice caps melt and the fissures open, so methane escapes and causes more warming."
This phenomenon causes sea levels to rise, which is particularly problematic in Florida:
"Along the flat Florida coastline, a 1-foot rise in sea level could cause anywhere from 10 to 100 feet of shoreline retreat — erosion," Chanton said. "For us here in Florida, this is really important because we can expect the coast to recede."
That beach house, he warned, might be in peril: "It may not be there for your grandchildren."
Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of UnderwaterTimes.com, its staff or its advertisers.
Reader Comments
19 people have commented so far.Thee LORD is coming Soon, it won't matter. after THEE Rapture, 7 yrs., & Then JESUS will Rule as King & LORD for a 1000 years. then the Great White THROAN of JUDGEMENT, the devil & all Whom did Not recieve & believe on & in JESUS, WILL BE CAST IN THE lAKE OF FIRE, 4 Ever !!! The Earth will be the Garden 4 all, Healthy & well. And we can all start looking for JESUS in The Sky, NOW. Any Day Now!Repent & lead Loved ones to HIM too, HE Will take care of US & EARTH, Always has, & still does, Daily. Wake UP ! It's all HIS !!!
comment# 1 - pamy · Morehead,Ky. USA · Jun 18, 2012 @ 11:21pm
WHy won;t most of the worlds population and governments realize the truth???
comment# 2 - cary breef · raleigh USA · Jun 19, 2012 @ 12:39am
My boyfriend and have always agreed that we are losing our beaches back to the water.california irginia coastline ,North and South Carolina,And now Florida.We as A nation need to wake up.I fear our grandcildren will not be able to see our country as we have ,The melting polar caps and others.We try to visit sites we know might not be here in 50 years,I wasx not surprised with your article .I would like to find or read more.If you have a newsletter please ad me to it. WE will be looking for more on this issue. thank you , God bless Cheryl Toney
comment# 3 - Cheryl Toney · Front royal Virginia · Jun 19, 2012 @ 4:16am
I is just mother nature hard at work. I have moved from land to sea for this very reason. Now the wealthy beach front owning politicians will be washed out to sea. Yea then mother nature can rebuild what they have screwed up!
comment# 4 - Chuck Unkle · Bay County · Jun 19, 2012 @ 5:28am
That's good news for some people in Florida, the ones that are more than .5 miles and less than 1.0 miles form the shore line. will have waterfront property in the future.
comment# 5 - RonTownsend · Fwb, Florida · Jun 19, 2012 @ 6:44am
can you please send me any more journal information on this subject...or any subject pertaining to climate change. Thank you. terryj.bullock45@yahoo.com
comment# 6 - terry bullock · Frostproof, Florida, USA · Jun 19, 2012 @ 8:52am
This is just the ebb and flow of nature. I wouldn't say it's anything to worry about for our generation, our children's generation, nor their children's generation...maybe a bit after that, but hey, that's just nature!
comment# 7 - SusanInRaleigh · Raleigh, USA · Jun 19, 2012 @ 8:59am
I live near one of the great lakes; while sea water may be rising, fresh water is declining at an alarming rate! I'm not sure if it's due to the bottling companies selling our water off or part of the global warming problem. I just know it's happening from observing it for 50 years. I've also noticed that the poles appear to be shifting. Twenty years ago I could watch the sun set right across from my front window, now it's more to what used to be the north.
comment# 8 - Paul Hopwood · Buffalo, USA · Jun 19, 2012 @ 9:04am
Mankind's contribution to what nature does is akin to a flea on an elephant's rear. The earth will continue through it's natural chain of events. Man was not here, in great number, spewing "greenhouse gases" into the air millions of years ago which spurred on the ice age. Yet today, scientists seem to think our paltry "contributions" will cause cataclysmic results. It doesn't take much to extrapolate fact prior historical data. Where were the multitudes of people and "greenhouse gas" spewing devices that caused all of these prior cataclysmic events in our earth's history? Certainly our scientific and historic community can provide appropriate evidence to support their present day theory through extrapolation. If not, their present-day theories are just that...an unproven and unsustainable theory...
comment# 9 - Ron · Louisa, Va · Jun 19, 2012 @ 9:06am
The planet is being destroyed and all the author can worry about is real estate values? LOL!
comment# 10 - Steve · Rockville, USA · Jun 19, 2012 @ 9:19am
The coastline has been changing since the beginning of time. People who build houses on sand banks next to the ocean and then expect their million dollar beach house to still be there in 50-100 years are fools. An old friend of mine who owned a dumpy little 1960s beach box on the outer banks of NC that was surrounded multi-million dollar oceanfront McMansions once told me. "Son, don't put any more money into a beach house down there than you can afford to lose, because it is not a question of IF, but WHEN it is going to wash away." Good advice!
comment# 11 - Rob · Yorktown, VA · Jun 19, 2012 @ 10:02am
Once again you people are buying the "Magic Beans"! If one would only do the research you will find the truth is there. FYI: The methane levels obtained from ice core samples at the poles show that during the PEAK of the last ice age, avergae temperatures in temperate climates were 147 degrees during the summer months! The ice caps could ADVANCE at anytime. We are still in the end time of the last ice age. The release of methane and dust clouds from volcanic activity will increase and therefore cause global cooling. That is scientific based historical fact that they never tell you.
comment# 12 - Scotty · Lindale, TX · Jun 19, 2012 @ 10:20am
beach erosion is a real problem that has always been here. the ocean hasn't risen to any visible degree
comment# 13 - shlong · tampa FL · Jun 19, 2012 @ 11:35am
I am not a scientist, but looks to me like there could be some way to harness this methane being released and use for some form of energy.
comment# 14 - becky · Cookeville, Tn · Jun 19, 2012 @ 11:55am
So little info, so much hype. They fail to mention the Arctic cap has increased significantly the last 3 years. There is frozen methane on the floor of much of the ocean... that seeps a little all the time. Bottom line, the global warming is about money. The pseudo science group with their hand out for millions annually to think about climate is the largest scam in the world. The liberals then want to tax and have their hand out... Like the president's campaign contributors that have all had their hand out and been each paid bac k 10xs their contributions... talk about buy a presidency.
comment# 15 - Robert · Mesa, AZ · Jun 19, 2012 @ 12:02pm
In Maine they quip: "If you want beach front property, buy land now-in Augusta."
comment# 16 - Patricia Francis · Charlestown, USA · Jun 19, 2012 @ 1:06pm
For Robert in Mesa,AZ : When photographers have taken photos from airplanes, those Arctic cap photos show that the ice melting has caused them to become smaller, not larger.Same thing with the glaciers. Go to Alaska and take note that the glaciers have receded. That's warming, not cooling.Just what do you say to that Mr. Head in the Sand ?
comment# 17 - Stan · Danbury,CT · Jun 20, 2012 @ 6:17am
You can't fight Mother Nature!
comment# 18 - Denise · Powder Springs, Ga · Jun 20, 2012 @ 6:54am
Man induced or not, the point many narrow minded people are ignoring is this is really happening and your investments for your future generations had better not plan on a beach house unless its on a bluff. That is about all we can do about it. The change can't be stopped. They will see horrific loss of life on island and countries and potentially our own oceanside cities. Events that will make Katrina and the Sumatran sunami look tame.
comment# 19 - Johnny · Frisco, USA · Jun 20, 2012 @ 9:44am