As usual, because methane breaks down within a few years, the main impact is about rate of release, rather than total volume released. So this isn’t good, but it’s also not currently at anything like the scale which would make a major difference.
As usual, because methane breaks down within a few years, the main impact is about rate of release, rather than total volume released. So this isn’t good, but it’s also not currently at anything like the scale which would make a major difference.
Potentially (ok - not currently), “24 gigatons of carbon accumulated in methane hydrates” is a serious amount. Note that as methane increases in the atmosphere, it’s lifetime increases as oxidising capacity is used up, a positive feedback. Methane may also help explain the rapid at the ends of ice ages (when sea-level rose ±100m). If there’s any really bad runaway warming scenario, it has to do with methane.