There are huge deposits of methane gas hydrates at considerably less depth — 50-120 meters — below the seafloor than expected! This is discovered by scientists supported by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program — an international marine research program.
Though this finding means that the potential energy source – methane – is more accessible than previously believed, the gas hydrate deposits at such a close proximity to the seafloor could also risk the environment with global warming. This makes the seafloor less stable and more susceptible to melting than thought!
Methane at such shallow depth increases the risk that massive amounts of methane could be released into the atmosphere, raising the ocean temperatures significantly.