Clathrate gun hypothesis

The Clathrate Gun Hypothesis is a theory related to climate change and the stability of methane hydrates stored in ocean sediments. Methane hydrates are ice-like structures in which methane molecules are trapped within a lattice of water molecules. They are found in marine sediments and permafrost regions. The hypothesis suggests that under certain conditions—particularly with a rise in global temperatures—the stability of these methane hydrates may be compromised.