Methane is a gas that occurs naturally in Earth’s atmosphere. Like carbon dioxide, methane is a greenhouse gas. This means it traps heat from the sun near Earth’s surface. Today, methane levels in the atmosphere are very high, and methane contributes to global warming.
Methane comes from both natural sources and human activity, including fossil fuel extraction and agriculture. A well-known source of methane is cow burps! But methane also bubbles up from the seafloor, and scientists are trying to learn just how much makes it into the atmosphere.
Watch the video to learn more!
Dive deeper with this article about ocean methane seeps on Mongabay News.
