Large Release Of Methane Off Los Angeles Coast — Unusual concentrations detected by haz-mat crews

Typical methane bubbles

Reports of a foul smell in the Santa Monica area caused dozens of calls to the local fire department. Brian Humphrey, spokesman for the department said:

“This morning there was a large release of natural ocean floor methane released in the Santa Monica Bay. This methane is not toxic and disperses easily.”

Methane, which is 23 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide and is highly flammable is stored in massive quantities in sea beds around the world. The oceanic form, methane clathrate, sometimes called hydromethane is stable until its disturbed. Disturbance can occur from raised ocean temperatures or  oceanic earthquakes, which are often caused by techtonic plate movement and though human interference such as pipeline laying can also cause the release of the gas.

Once released the methane bubbles to the surface, releasing sulphurous gasses as the bubble ‘pop’ on the surface.