A study by researchers from Texas A&M and University of California in Santa Barbara have found that all of the methane gas released from the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico have been consumed by tiny microbes. Methane gas amounts 100,000 times higher than normal at the time of their release have completely disappeared after only 120 days. Some scientists had raised concerns that dissolved methane and other oil residue would continue to plague the Gulf for years or even decades. This is turning out not to be the case.
Confirming that the methane gas has been consumed was a corresponding drop in dissolved oxygen content in the water consistent with the oxygen required to convert the methane into water and carbon dioxide by the microbes. High levels of methane eating bacteria were also found in the water where the methane gas had previously been measured.
Microbes are also cleaning up the spilled oil. In a report last month, federal officials said there was no longer any significant oil from the spill left offshore. What should be clear is that natural processes can clean up oil spills over time.
The massive release of methane gas from the well shows that the ocean has the capacity to neutralize methane gas. Even methane gas that is released into the atmosphere can end up dissolved in the ocean and eaten by naturally occurring microbes. This is good news for climate scientists who have worried that methane gas releases from melting permafrost could quickly and substantially increase temperatures around the world. It seems that the environment has checks and balances that help maintain a stable climate making it less likely that a doomsday scenario from manmade climate change would occur.
We are still warming our planet due to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The ocean can neutralize carbon dioxide, but this is a very slow process involving the mixing of carbon dioxide with calcium to create calcium carbonate (chalk).
The economics of global warming and climate change imply that we should take steps to mitigate the release of carbon dioxide and the resulting increase in temperatures. We do not need to make drastic, immediate changes in our energy production from fossil fuels, but we should start to replace some of our fossil fuel consumption with renewable energy.
UCSB, Texas A&M scientists find methane gas concentrations have returned to near-normal levels
Comments
The Victory Song, in RAP:
The Deniers Have Won.
To all former believers we say, “welcome aboard“!
Now we can stop dividing environmentalism.
Systems Changed, climate didn't.
System Change, not climate change.
Population control, not climate control.
Oh Gosh, I hope we don't have a sudden mass death of microbes from overeating.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!