Our Changing World: Antarctic methane seeps

On her recent trip in Antarctica, Claire Concannon caught up with a team of NIWA researchers who are discovering new methane seeps.  

These are areas where methane gas or fluid escapes from below the seafloor through cracks or fissures.   

The first active seep in Antarctica was found in 2012 at a place called Cinder Cones.  

NIWA microbial ecologist Dr Sarah Seabrook visited the site in 2016 as part of her PhD research. Now she’s returning to investigate further.