Ancient Volcanism and Microbes: Unveiling Earth's Methane Secrets

A new study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that volcanic activity 56 million years ago, during the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, released more methane into the atmosphere than previously thought. Researchers collected samples from a large igneous province located between Greenland and Europe, which showed evidence of hydrothermal vents active at shallow depths or even above sea level. This suggests that larger quantities of greenhouse gases, including methane, entered the atmosphere during this period, contributing to global warming and the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. The study also highlights the Earth's ability to self-regulate over long time scales but emphasizes the urgency of addressing the current climate crisis.