Scientists hunt underwater methane leaks that could accelerate climate change

A dedicated group of marine researchers, dubbed “bubble chasers” and “flare hunters,” are scouring the world’s oceans for methane gas seeping from the seafloor—a phenomenon that could significantly impact global climate change. These scientific specialists travel from the Arctic to Antarctica, diving into both shallow waters and depths thousands of meters below the surface, tracking tiny streams of methane-filled bubbles rising from ocean sediments.

The work is challenging, requiring advanced sonar technology, underwater robots, and precise measurement tools to locate these elusive cold-ocean methane seeps. Claudio Argentino, a sediment biogeochemist at UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, describes these sites as “fascinating and extreme environments” where his team works to quantify exactly how much gas escapes from seafloor sediments into the ocean and atmosphere above.

While these methane releases pose potential risks for accelerating global warming, they also create unique underwater ecosystems that support specialized marine life. The research spans 150 million years of geological history, with scientists mapping known methane seepage sites worldwide to better understand this phenomenon’s long-term patterns.

The implications are significant: as ocean temperatures rise and ice sheets melt, these natural methane releases could increase, creating a feedback loop that amplifies climate change. However, determining the exact role seafloor methane will play in Earth’s future remains one of the most complex challenges facing climate scientists today, making the work of these “bubble chasers” more critical than ever.