Scientists from Russia, the United States and Sweden made a unique discovery in the Arctic ocean.

The expedition there were about 300 people a massive release of methane from the ocean floor. Similar anomaly can lead to catastrophic consequences for the Earth's climate.

This sensational news was one of the main results of the first moment of the Russian-Swedish-American expedition, which ended in the Chukchi sea near barrow. For 45 days 47 scientists from the Russian Federation, the United States and Sweden investigated the methane emissions in the Arctic ocean. On the icebreaker "ODEN" they passed through the Northern sea route from the coast of Norway to Cape barrow.

"Today's expedition is continuing held in the last 15 years of Russian research scientists massive methane emissions in the Arctic seas. This is the largest study that for the first time covers the whole length of the Northern sea route, which allows to analyze the methane emissions at the same time in all the Arctic seas", - quotes the words of the commander of the expedition from the Russian side Igor Semiletov ITAR-TASS.

According to him, in addition among the results of the first stage of the expedition is to locate the sites of massive methane emissions in the East Siberian and Chukchi seas, in which a detailed study has not previously been conducted. And still managed to measure the amounts of emitted greenhouse gas. These results will be evaluated by scientists already on the shore.

Note that past international expedition suggest that methane occurs when the destruction of the underwater sections of permafrost due to weather changes, which increases the warming process. These studies demonstrated that massive emissions of methane in the Arctic could lead to catastrophic results for the Earth's climate.
sections: Society