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Nature 423, 681-682 (12 June 2003) | doi:10.1038/423681a
Rapid climate change: Gas leak!
Quirin Schiermeier1
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Abstract
Global warming isn't a new phenomenon — sea-bed emissions of methane caused temperatures to soar in our geological past. But no one is sure what triggered the release. Quirin Schiermeier investigates.
About 55 million years ago, our planet emitted a spectacular burp. Trillions of tonnes of methane, until then safely locked up in soils and beneath the ocean floor, were released into the oceans and atmosphere.
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