An expedition conducted on the USCG Polar Sea during August of 2009 explored the Alaskan Shelf of the Beaufort Sea to address the sediment methane sources, the potential for contribution to climate change and possible locations for energy exploration. MITAS, lead by Dr. Richard Coffin, focused on spatial variation of methane in shallow sediments, the water column and flux to the atmosphere. Scientists from the United States, Germany, and Belgium integrated expertise to work on novel topics in sediment geology, water column and sediment geochemistry and microbiology. Preliminary findings from this expedition are presented in the attached manuscript. → Go to Full Report
