New Study Finds Bacteria May Play a Key Role in Producing Volumes of Methane
Recent research has found that bacteria living deep beneath the seafloor can produce surprisingly large volumes of methane gas. This discovery could have significant implications for the global climate, as methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. The bacteria were discovered living deep in the sediment of the Gulf of Mexico, in an environment where no light or oxygen is present. By producing methane, these bacteria are able to obtain energy from the organic matter that is buried in the sediment below. The volume of methane produced by these bacteria is significant, and could represent up to 3% of the global oceanic methane budget. This discovery sheds light on a process that has been poorly understood until now, and could have important implications for climate change.
source: Phys.org