Dynamics of gas hydrates in polar marine environments.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Ocean and Earth Science
Abstract
Almost half of the Earth's carbon is stored in gas hydrates and related shallow gas deposits. Numerical models predict that this reservoir is highly mobile and that escaping gas has a significant potential to accelerate climate change releasing as much as 2000 Gt of methane over a short period of time. As methane is a potent greenhouse gas it would course further global warming. Arctic gas hydrates are most vulnerable to future climate change because (1) it is predicted that temperatures will increase faster in the Arctic than in low latitudes (2) the intercept of the gas hydrate stability zone with the seabed is within the reach of fast warming surface waters and (3) the water column above the vulnerable zone of gas hydrates is smaller than in warmer oceans facilitating more efficient transport of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. We propose an interdisciplinary consortium to quantify the present amount of gas hydrates through seismic methods, to measure current methane flux from the seabed to the atmosphere, to detect the effects of postglacial warming on the gas hydrate system, and to predict the effect of a range of future temperature changes on the gas hydrates. This information will allow a detailed assessment of the mobility of Arctic gas hydrates and it will significantly decrease the uncertainties involved in climate modelling.
Organisations
Publications
Chabert A
(2011)
Characterization of a stratigraphically constrained gas hydrate system along the western continental margin of Svalbard from ocean bottom seismometer data
in Journal of Geophysical Research
Fisher R
(2011)
Arctic methane sources: Isotopic evidence for atmospheric inputs ARCTIC METHANE SOURCES
in Geophysical Research Letters
Graves C
(2017)
Methane in shallow subsurface sediments at the landward limit of the gas hydrate stability zone offshore western Svalbard
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Graves C
(2015)
Fluxes and fate of dissolved methane released at the seafloor at the landward limit of the gas hydrate stability zone offshore western Svalbard
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
James R
(2016)
Effects of climate change on methane emissions from seafloor sediments in the Arctic Ocean: A review
in Limnology and Oceanography
Krey V
(2009)
Gas hydrates: entrance to a methane age or climate threat?
in Environmental Research Letters
Nisbet EG
(2009)
Atmospheric science. Shifting gear, quickly.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Panieri G
(2014)
Record of methane emissions from the West Svalbard continental margin during the last 23.500yrs revealed by d13C of benthic foraminifera
in Global and Planetary Change
Sarkar S
(2013)
Corrigendum to "Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard" [Quat. Sci. Rev. 30 (2011), 1710-1725]
in Quaternary Science Reviews
| Description | The main discovery from this grant was that methane is escaping into the ocean through at more than 250 sites at 200-400 m depth west of the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic. Most of the gas escape sites are concentrated at the landward limit of stability of ice-like methane hydrate, and this localised concentration may be attributed to the melting of hydrate in response to ocean warming over the last few decades. Other work supported by the grant explored details of the timing of gas escape and the geological controls on this escape. |
| Exploitation Route | The project has led to a host of follow-up research projects, has had widespread media coverage, and has increased interest in the effect of methane hydrate melting on global climate. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment |
| URL | http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/project/EA6937C3-8F17-40ED-B0B6-A5E46FBD5993 |
| Description | The project attracted widespread media interest and interest from government (DECC), and results have influenced thinking about the importance of methane hydrates in global climate models. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2009 |
| Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |