Seafloor methane emissions have been documented for several decades, with newer evidence suggesting that methane bubble plumes from the deep sea are far more numerous than previously assumed. However, the physical, chemical and biological processes that dictate exactly how this methane is transferred into the ocean, or in some cases possibly even directly into the shallow ocean and atmosphere, remain challenging to understand. This multidisciplinary cruise led by Drs. Scott Wankel and Anna Michel of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will explore these methane bubble plumes with various technologies.
