The journal Science has printed a story that details the discovery of a hole in the seabed of the Arctic ocean, which is leaking huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere.

The scientific research shows the permafrost under the East Siberian Arctic shelf, which was thought to be a barrier sealing methane, has been holed.

The report from scientists of the Russian Academy of Sciences says while there have been many theories on global warming, the methane leak could be an overlooked source of the gas in the atmosphere.

The article says the discovery will provide a better estimate of the contribution of the Arctic to overall methane emissions.

Average methane concentrations in the Arctic are currently the highest in 400,000 years.