Dynamics of gas hydrates in polar marine environments.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
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 modeling
Organisations
Publications
Berndt C
(2009)
Tsunami modeling of a submarine landslide in the Fram Strait
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Berndt C
(2014)
Temporal constraints on hydrate-controlled methane seepage off Svalbard.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
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
Sarkar S
(2011)
Switching of a paleo-ice stream in northwest Svalbard
in Quaternary Science Reviews
Sarkar S
(2012)
Seismic evidence for shallow gas-escape features associated with a retreating gas hydrate zone offshore west Svalbard
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Westbrook G
(2009)
Escape of methane gas from the seabed along the West Spitsbergen continental margin
in Geophysical Research Letters
Description | We have determined that gas hydrates in the Arctic are sensitive to bottom water temperature changes. This means future ocean warming will have an effect on gas hydrate systems and possibly release methane into the ocean. |
Exploitation Route | They have already been taken up several research teams all over the world triggering at least 8 scientific cruises into the Arctic Ocean. |
Sectors | Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Description | Except for high profile publications the award also spurned several large scale projects both in Germany and on EC level. The principal investigator who took over (Prof. Tim Minshull) will surely provide further details. |
First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
Sector | Education,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Societal |