Unlike the dramatic eruptions of hydrothermal vents, cold seeps release methane and hydrogen sulfide at ambient temperature through cracks in the seafloor. These seeps support communities that can persist for centuries. Bacterial mats, tube worms, mussels, and clams form dense aggregations around seep sites. The methane released at cold seeps can form methane hydrates — ice-like structures that trap methane within a lattice of water molecules. These deposits represent an enormous potential energy source, though their extraction poses significant environmental risks.