A stunning discovery in the depths of the Greenland Sea has revealed a treasure trove of life at the Freya gas hydrate mounds. This site might be the deepest known gas hydrate cold seep, teeming with unique marine species.
During the Arctic Deep EXTREME24 expedition, experts from UiT The Arctic University of Norway stumbled upon unusual activity beneath the waves, prompting them to deploy a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). What they found were striking mounds of gas hydrate, a solid form of methane, surrounded by a rich variety of marine life.
“This discovery reshapes our understanding of Arctic ecosystems,” says Giuliana Panieri, the co-chief scientist on the expedition. She notes that this deep-sea community plays a vital role in carbon cycling and may influence future conservation efforts in the Arctic.
Animals at these mounds are thriving on chemosynthetic microbes, which convert methane and other chemicals into energy. The gas hydrates release these nutrients, enabling life to flourish at depths of around 3,640 meters (about 11,940 feet) where sunlight can’t reach.
Interestingly, gas hydrates hold nearly one-fifth of the world’s methane, trapped in seafloor sediments. The Freya mounds, located more than 3.5 kilometers deep, are significantly deeper than most recorded seeps, which typically sit below 2,000 meters.
The ecosystem includes species like tubeworms, snails, and other unique creatures. In fact, the make-up of these inhabitants is similar to that of hydrothermal vents found at comparable depths in the Arctic. The sediment samples hint that the hydrocarbons are remnants from a warm, forested Greenland during the Miocene epoch, which was millions of years ago.
As deep-sea mining becomes more prevalent, the rich deposits at the Freya mounds draw interest from industries and governments. However, experts warn of the detrimental effects mining could have on fragile ecosystems in the deep sea.
Jon Copley, a marine ecologist from the University of Southampton, emphasizes the importance of protecting these unique habitats, stating that their biodiversity is critical for the overall health of Arctic marine life.
Research like this helps us understand the pressing issues of climate change and the need for sustainable management of our oceans. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions about conservation practices, especially as new technology enables deeper exploration and extraction in previously untouched marine environments.
For more about the expedition and its findings, check out the study published in Nature Communications.
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