A significant discovery's been made by scientists researching climate change.

The international team looked at air that's been trapped within Antarctic ice and found lower levels of methane than expected.

It suggests we're releasing more greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere through fossil fuels, than first thought.

Atmospheric scientist at NIWA Doctor Hinrich Schaefer told Rachel Smalley as the ice melts less greenhouse gasses will be released.

"That means for future warming we are a little more optimistic that there isn't going to be a big burst of methane coming out of the permafrost ...that is going to make the whole mass of climate change worse."

LISTEN ABOVE AS HINRICH SCHAEFER SPEAKS WITH RACHEL SMALLEY