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The METS methane sensor was presented in 1999, as the first sensor for underwater methane monitoring and detection, using a gas-permeable membrane with tin-oxide (SnO2) semiconductor detection. It is described as being able to detect methane in the concentration range 50 nM–10 μM in its standard version, and up to 2 mM for some versions. It can perform at water depths down to 3500 m and temperatures of 2–40°C. The METS sensor has been widely used for the detection of methane-rich plume signals in the water column overlying cold seep environments or for long-term monitoring.  

The METS methane sensor was presented in 1999, as the first sensor for underwater methane monitoring and detection, using a gas-permeable membrane with tin-oxide (SnO2) semiconductor detection. It is described as being able to detect methane in the concentration range 50 nM–10 μM in its standard version, and up to 2 mM for some versions. It can perform at water depths down to 3500 m and temperatures of 2–40°C. The METS sensor has been widely used for the detection of methane-rich plume signals in the water column overlying cold seep environments or for long-term monitoring.  

HydroC (Konsberg) is the sensor, comparable to the METS sensor except that the detection principle is based on direct IR absorption spectroscopy in the 3.4-μm region. This detection method does not consume methane, what simplifies calibration and reduces measurement errors in flowing fluid. The system can measure concentrations of methane in the range 30 nM–500 μm with a resolution of 3–30 nM. The T90 of the detector is quoted to be 30 s. The HydroC/CH4 was deployed in 2007 during RV Sonne cruise 190 (27/02/07– 22/03/07) and was able to measure methane plumes (10–50 nM) over the New Zealand continental margin (Contros GmBH, personal communication).

HydroC (Konsberg) is the sensor, comparable to the METS sensor except that the detection principle is based on direct IR absorption spectroscopy in the 3.4-μm region. This detection method does not consume methane, what simplifies calibration and reduces measurement errors in flowing fluid. The system can measure concentrations of methane in the range 30 nM–500 μm with a resolution of 3–30 nM. The T90 of the detector is quoted to be 30 s. The HydroC/CH4 was deployed in 2007 during RV Sonne cruise 190 (27/02/07– 22/03/07) and was able to measure methane plumes (10–50 nM) over the New Zealand continental margin (Contros GmBH, personal communication).