By Abdullahi Lukman
A Nigerian geoscientist, Yusuf Azeez, has joined an international expedition to Antarctica to study the stability of methane hydrates and the changing morphology of the seafloor in response to global warming.
The research, backed by a $1.7 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, brings together a multidisciplinary team of oceanographers, climate scientists, and marine geophysicists. Azeez, a doctoral researcher at Texas A\&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC), is participating in the fieldwork taking place in the Ross Sea, one of the most dynamic and environmentally significant areas of the Southern Ocean.
Speaking on the project, Azeez explained that the team’s primary goal is to understand how the polar regions are reacting to rising temperatures and what that means for global carbon cycling.
“We are focused on methane hydrates—frozen methane deposits beneath the ocean floor that are extremely sensitive to temperature changes,” he said.
“If destabilised, they could release large amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide.”
To investigate these risks, the team is using high-resolution bathymetric mapping, seismic profiling, and sub-bottom sonar technologies to detect signs of sediment deformation and potential gas seepage—clues that may indicate past or current methane release.
The findings are expected to contribute to international climate models and help shape global responses to the impacts of climate change.
Azeez noted that the research also serves as a training platform for early-career scientists and promotes international collaboration.
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“Being part of this mission is not just about science, but about visibility and partnership,” Azeez said. “As a Nigerian scientist, I bring a viewpoint that is often underrepresented in polar research.
Climate change is a global issue, and it requires voices from all regions.”
Beyond his work in Antarctica, Azeez leads a collaborative team from TAMU-CC, Texas A\&M University–College Station, and Leeds University (UK) under the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) EVOLVE Carbon Solution Programme.
The group is working on strategies for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) in the Gulf of Mexico, aiming to use geological formations to store carbon emissions permanently.
Azeez has presented his work at major international forums, including the Geological Society of America and the Unconventional Resources Technology Conference.
He also serves as Vice President of the SEG TAMU-CC Student Chapter and is active in SEG’s Early Career Global Research Community.
He expressed a commitment to fostering research links between Nigerian and international institutions, stressing Nigeria’s potential in offshore and marine research.
“This isn’t just about data,” he said.
“It’s about our shared future. What happens in Antarctica impacts coastlines, agriculture, and livelihoods everywhere.”
