In a shocking new discovery, scientists have found that the frozen methane deposits in the Arctic ocean are starting to be released over large parts of the continental slope off the East Siberian coast.
According to a report in The Guardian, this could accelerate the pace of global heating.The East Siberian slope methane hydrate system has been triggered and the process is likely to be an ongoing one.
More research is needed to confirm the climate consequences of this discovery.
These deposits are known as "sleeping giants of the carbon cycle" and have a warming effect that is 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20 year period.