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CIMRS

Seafloor Mapping Data Reveals Large Number of Gas Seeps Off U.S. West Coast

Scientist(s): 

The U.S. West Coast continental shelf is known to host methane bubble streams, formerly thought to be rare.

Underwater image of the seafloor with a grey carbonate shelf with methane bubbles rising above

Klamath Knoll is a carbonate-capped accretionary ridge offshore southern Oregon.  Bubble streams are extruding from beneath a carbonate shelf in 730 meter (2395 feet) water depth. These carbonate platforms are essential habitat for fish, deep-sea corals and invertebrates.

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