Surface observation of CH4 in the atmosphere and ocean

Warming the Arctic surface ocean due to influx of warm Pacific water not only leads to the declining of the sea ice extent but also triggers melting gas hydrate stored in the Arctic Sea floor of the continental shelf areas. Methane (CH4) is the most abundant hydrocarbon in the atmosphere, where it plays a much more effective role as the greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2). We study to estimate the CH4 fluxes on the interface of air and seawater. The CH4 in the ambient air and the surface water were quantitatively measured along the ship track.