Temporal Constraints on Hydrate- Controlled Methane Seepage off Svalbard
Permanent Link:

Material Information

Title:
Temporal Constraints on Hydrate- Controlled Methane Seepage off Svalbard
Series Title:
Science Magazine Volume 343
Creator:
C. Berndt
T. Feseker
T. Treude
S. Krastel
V. Liebetrau
H. Niemann
V.J. Bertics
I. Dumke
K. Dunnbier
B. Ferre
C. Graves
F. Gross
K. Hissmann
V. Huhnerbach
S. Krause
K. Lieser
J. Schauer
L. Steinle
Publisher:
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Publication Date:
Language:
English

Notes

Abstract:
Methane hydrate is an icelike substance that is stable at high pressure and low temperature in continental margin sediments. Since the discovery of a large number of gas flares at the landward termination of the gas hydrate stability zone off Svalbard, there has been concern that warming bottom waters have started to dissociate large amounts of gas hydrate and that the resulting methane release may possibly accelerate global warming. Here, we corroborate that hydrates play a role in the observed seepage of gas, but we present evidence that seepage off Svalbard has been ongoing for at least 3000 years and that seasonal fluctuations of 1° to 2°C in the bottom-water temperature cause periodic gas hydrate formation and dissociation, which focus seepage at the observed sites.

Record Information

Source Institution:
Florida International University
Rights Management:
Please contact the owning institution for licensing and permissions. It is the user's responsibility to ensure use does not violate any third party rights.

dpSobek Membership

Aggregations:
Sea Level Rise