Methane (IMAGE)
Caption
The new study determined that much of the ocean's dissolved organic matter is made up of novel polysaccharides -- long chains of sugar molecules created by photosynthetic bacteria in the upper ocean. Bacteria begin to slowly break these polysaccharides, tearing out pairs of carbon and phosphorus atoms from their molecular structure. In the process, the microbes create methane, ethylene, and propylene gasses as byproducts. Most of the methane escapes back into the atmosphere.
Credit
Illustration by Eric Taylor, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Usage Restrictions
with proper credit
License
Licensed content