International research team discovers a potential source of abiotic methane in the Arctic Ocean

A distinctive oceanic core complex releasing hot fluids has been identified at a depth of 2,700 meters on the Arctic Ocean's floor. This finding opens the way for new research into hydrothermal, deep-sea ecosystems, and Arctic geology.

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TROMSØ, NORWAY, and Woods Hole, Mass. (Nov. 21, 2025)  – An international team of scientists and students, led by the Arctic University of Norway, and including chemists and engineers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), has announced a remarkable discovery of a venting system on the seafloor of the Arctic. This significant finding was made during the ongoing EXTREME25 expedition aboard the research vessel Kronprins Haakon.

Map of where the Frigg Vent Field was discovered

Utilising the advanced remotely operated vehicle ROV ÆGIR 6000, researchers have been exploring the Fram Strait, a passage area situated between Greenland and Svalbard. During their exploration, the team identified a previously unknown diffuse venting field along the fault scarp of an oceanic core complex (OCC).

The WHOI-developed SAGE (Sensor for Aqueous Gases in the Environment) methane sensor was used in situ to confirm the presence of methane in the fluids.  This is significant as the location and geology of the area point to the potential of abiotic methane, which is methane that is produced without the presence of living organisms.

Mary Burkitt-Gray is the WHOI principal investigator on this project, made possible in part through a WHOI Access to Sea Award. This project uses the newly developed SAGE methane and CO2 sensors to identify sources of dissolved gas from seeps and vents in the high Arctic, map their distributions to determine the fate of these gases, and assess their impact on the surrounding ecosystems or environment.

“By deploying SAGE on ROV ÆGIR, we were able to measure the emission of methane from this vent in real-time and confirm its composition at source,” explained Burkitt-Gray.  “Using these sensors in situ helps us to immediately start to link the science behind the data.”

“The realization that we’re potentially measuring a source of methane that’s never been confirmed in this region is thrilling. It’s exciting to see what new discoveries this technology can help us make,” she added.

WHOI scientist Anna Michel and engineer Jason Kapit have developed the SAGE methane and carbon dioxide sensors, which offer portability and real-time monitoring of these gases in marine environments.

In recognition of this extraordinary discovery, the venting system has been proposed to be named the Frigg Vent Field, honouring the Norse goddess associated with foresight and wisdom. The vent field is located at a depth of 2,700 meters, showcasing the intriguing geological phenomena of the Arctic seabed.

“This discovery at the Frigg Vent Field provides the first clear evidence of active fluid flow through young oceanic crust in this part of the Arctic, revealing a system far more dynamic than previously recognised", said the expedition's lead scientist, Giuliana Panieri. "These achievements are only possible with coordinated and multidisciplinary fieldwork and real-time coordination between the crew and the scientists on board.”

Frigg vent Field: A tectonic window into the early life of Earth

What makes this site unique is the fluids emitted from cracks in the rocks. Instead of focused emissions from a chimney, the team found a wide area on a fault scarp (100 m high) dislocating lower crust and upper mantle rocks from which fluids directly escape at multiple locations at the seafloor. Rock chemistry and structure make the site a promising candidate for the production of abiotic methane, a type of methane formed through water–rock reactions rather than being derived from biological materials.

The discovery offers a unique opportunity to study processes that resemble conditions on the early Earth and possibly other ocean worlds. At the OCC, the mantle and lower crust rocks, faulted and exposed to the seafloor, create chemical environments that may mimic those that first supported microbial life. The shimmering fluids observed at the site hint at active subsurface reactions that could help scientists better understand how life emerges and persists in extreme environments.

”Despite initially suffering from seasickness on my first cruise, the groundbreaking discoveries in the deep Arctic Ocean transformed the experience into pure excitement. I had the rare opportunity to explore uncharted territories and witness life's remarkable resilience in the most extreme conditions,” said Giulia Amaglio, a postdoc from the CNR Institute of Polar Science in Italy.

Active fluid venting point where the SAGE instrument from WHOI is deployed to measure fluid emission at Frigg Vent Field at 2700 m water depth. (Photo by EXTREME25)

Vent fauna: familiar Arctic residents in a new home

Unlike traditional hydrothermal vents that create chimneys and emit jets of hot water, the Frigg Vent Field consists of a diffuse venting system spread across a fractured rocky area. Small openings on the outcrops release fluids that support specialised deep-sea organisms adapted to cold, methane-rich environments. Initial observations and samples indicate that the Frigg Vent Field hosts a suite of fauna similar to that found at other known Arctic vent sites. Among them: snails, crustaceans, tubeworms, and fish. Samples collected during the cruise will allow researchers to identify the species present and determine how connected this new site is to other Arctic vent ecosystems.

Claudio Argentino and Ines Barrenechea from UiT, experienced in polar cruises, were still thrilled by the discovery: “It is very exciting to see something new every time we have the ROV at sea, what first appeared as bare rock revealed whitish bacterial filaments and mats likely supporting more complex organisms.”

Diverse seafloor fauna, including tubeworms, gastropods, and bivalves, colonising the substrate around a fluid-venting spot at Frigg Vent Field at 2700 m water depth. (Photo by EXTREME25)

Opening new research avenues into deep-sea ecosystems and the Arctic marine system

The Frigg Vent Field represents one of the most fascinating discoveries of the expedition, opening new research avenues into methane formation, deep-sea ecosystems, and Arctic geology. The samples and data collected will be analysed over the coming months, enhancing our understanding of this unique system and its global importance. Building on these findings, the team is already planning the following steps to strengthen existing partnerships and forge new collaborations within the international polar community. These discoveries also support the long-term vision of Polarhavet 2050, fostering a coordinated strategy to advance deep-ocean exploration and research for sustainable ocean management.

Students and scientists onboard conducting sampling and analysis operations related to the Frigg Vent Field. (Photo by EXTREME25)

About the expedition

The EXTREME 25 expedition adopts a multidisciplinary approach by bringing together scientists, students, media experts, and artists from all over the world to explore extreme environments. This research cruise stands out not only for its scientific results but also for the breadth of expertise on board. Alongside geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, methane specialists, and marine ecologists, the expedition hosted: an active delegation from the National Research Council of Italy (CNR), representing multiple institutes and disciplines; a team of chemists and engineers from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; researchers from EXTREMES, a UArctic-supported initiative exploring the intersection of aesthetics, art, and science; scientists from the University of Bergen contributing expertise in deep-sea chemosynthesis-based ecosystems; scientists from University Milano Bicocca supporting the high-resolution mapping effort; microbiologists from University of Naples Federico II; micropalaeontologists from University of Vienna; anthropologists and artists studying human–polar interactions and new modes of science communication; a project supported by Equinor and NOD, focused on understanding subsurface processes and methane pathways.

Read more about the Expedition here.

To stay updated on the Expedition, follow the Instagram page: @extreme_arctic

Funding for the SAGE project provided by: WHOI Access to the Sea Fund  and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners.

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About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its mission is to understand the ocean and its interactions with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. WHOI’s pioneering discoveries stem from an ideal combination of science and engineering—one that has made it one of the most trusted and technically advanced leaders in fundamental and applied ocean research and exploration anywhere. WHOI is known for its multidisciplinary approach, superior ship operations, and unparalleled deep-sea robotics capabilities. We play a leading role in ocean observation and operate the most extensive suite of ocean data-gathering platforms in the world. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge to inform people and policies for a healthier planet. Learn more at whoi.edu.