Methane Hydrates in Quaternary Climate Change: The Clathrate Gun Hypothesis

Abstract

A new AGU title, Methane Hydrates in Quaternary Climate Change: The Clathrate Gun Hypothesis , by James P. Kennett, Kevin G. Cannariato, Ingrid L. Hendy and Richard J. Behl, presents an alternate hypothesis to explain climate behavior, including abrupt warming over the past 800,000 years. According to the Clathrate Gun Hypothesis, periodic releases of atmospheric methane from melting methane hydrate amplified a pattern of temperature fluctuations and triggered “greenhouse” warming that led to an increase in global temperatures.