Scientists Find Good News About Methane Bubbling Up From the Ocean Floor Near Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Barbara ^ | December 20, 2007 | Unknown

[decimon]

The amount of methane release from COP seeps is around two million cubic feet per day...

Must be all the donuts.

[aruanan]

The amount of methane release from COP seeps is around two million cubic feet per day, according to Valentine. About 100 barrels of oil oozes out of this area as well. Methane warms the Earth 23 times more than carbon dioxide when averaged over a century. Thus the fate of the methane bubbles from the seeps is an important environmental question.

There are places in California that had a lot of natural oil seeps that fouled beaches, etc.. After offshore drilling, the natural seeps decreased. So here was an example of oil drilling that decreased pollution caused by a natural phenomenon.

[LasVegasMac]

About 100 barrels of oil oozes out of this area as well.

If it's 'oozing' we should be drillin'

Right, Jed?

[Ben Mugged]

If Santa Barbara is emitting methane gas, that makes it the butt of America. Considering it’s liberal bent, it makes a lot of sense.

[Paloma_55]

I remember walking those beaches and getting an inch of tar/sand stuck to the bottom of my shoes.

[decimon]

If it's 'oozing' we should be drillin'

Right, Jed?

Who be Jed?

You'd think someone would want to make use of what is naturally escaping anyway.

[Brad from Tennessee]

SOME OCEAN ORGANISMS LIVE ON METHANE

. . .methane is the primary food source for most microorganisms thriving in the ocean floor. At the surface. . .scientists discovered formerly unknown bacteria that use oxygen to feed on methane.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/10/061019100814.htm

[LasVegasMac]

Who be Jed?

Jed.....

Clampett!!

And he didn't even have to drill....just shoot....

[decimon]

SOME OCEAN ORGANISMS LIVE ON METHANE

Since methane is deemed to be a much worse greenhouse gas than CO2, I propose we develop flying microbes to cleanse the atmosphere.

[decimon]

Yeah...Donna Douglas.

[LasVegasMac]

getting an inch of tar/sand stuck to the bottom of my shoes.

That is amazing.

I remember visiting family in Long Beach, early 70's....lots of oil rigs. Something .... Hill, had a ton of working rigs.

[LasVegasMac]

ok, my turn...

Donna Douglas

??

[mtbopfuyn]

Are they sure it wasn’t caused by Uncle Fred last time he went for a swim?

[who_would_fardels_bear]

The actual butt of America is Baker, CA. Home of the world's largest rectal thermometer:

[decimon]

Elly May Clampett

[sionnsar]

getting an inch of tar/sand stuck to the bottom of my shoes.
That is amazing.

No, that's messy. First time I tried that stunt I had to "carve" the tar off my shoes to walk back to the apartment.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Genetic engineering.

[LasVegasMac]

LOL

[airborne]

Whale farts.

[pa_dweller]

How could it be good when

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE! ?

A controversial scientific theory states that gigantic eruptions of methane gas from deep in the ocean have occurred regularly throughout history. Although a global-scale methane eruption today is highly unlikely, there may be stagnant, oxygen-poor basins in the ocean where methane might accumulate. Even a small explosion could cause a catastrophe. Imagine what would happen if such an event occurred in the mid-Pacific. Tsunamis would be generated in continuous waves, striking Hawaii and the entire West Coast. Coastal areas would be flooded for miles inland. Methane/water clouds would auto-ignite and the massive fires could cause widespread destruction. Consequences could be global. Whatever humanity survives would be thrown into a Dark Age.

Seriously tho', it seems like an opportunity for some inventive type to find a way to harvest this stuff.