In the deep permafrost, which has high pressure and below freezing temperatures, there are icy deposits, or gas hydrates which trap large amounts of methane. Scott M, Elliott, discovered that beneath the Arctic Ocean and North Pacific there are large reservoirs of the green house gases. It is suspected that with the increase of global warming in the next years, the gas hydrates will melt and release the methane. Elliott explained that this methane would be food for the microbes, and in the process they would produce carbon dioxide. This would result in the loss of about 95% of their oxygen, stunt growth of phytoplankton and other marine organisms. Also, because of the extra microbial activity nitrate, copper and iron would be depleted. David Valentine said that these ecological effects are similar to those present in the “dead zones” of lakes and oceans.
This article was an example of discovery science, because they were using observations and measurements to describe nature. The importance of this finding is that humans must be aware of the effects that global warming is having on the different environments all over the world, and how we should make an effort to try to reverse the effects of global warming before things get worse.
By: Sid Perkins
Title: Of methane and microorganisms
Journal: Science News
Date: July 31, 2010 [p. 14]
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