Microbes in Gulf of Mexico Consume Methane Faster than Believed, Study Finds

Microbes living at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico consume methane 10 to 100 times faster than previously believed and may help consume a greater portion of the gaseous waste from the Deepwater Horizon spill than expected, according to a new study. Using spectrometry technology that is able to measure methane levels at depths of 5,000 to 7,000 feet, scientists determined that entire communities of microbes have emerged in deepwater brine pools near the locations where gas and oil seep into the Gulf naturally. After combining the data with measurements of microbe activity, researchers were able to calculate how quickly the methane is consumed. The researchers, who conducted the study before the April spill, note that methane is just a part of what spilled from the Deepwater Horizon rig earlier this year, and that the rate of the spill far exceeded the rate at which microbes could consume the waste. The results will be published in the journal Deep-Sea Research II.