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Measurements of the fate of gas hydrates during transit through the ocean water column
Author(s) -
Brewer Peter G.,
Paull Charles,
Peltzer Edward T.,
Ussler William,
Rehder Gregor,
Friederich Gernot
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2002gl014727
Subject(s) - methane , clathrate hydrate , water column , debris , geology , sediment , hydrate , seabed , transit (satellite) , seawater , decomposition , atmospheric methane , deep sea , oceanography , environmental science , mineralogy , geomorphology , greenhouse gas , chemistry , organic chemistry , political science , law , public transport
We report on controlled experiments to document the fate of naturally occurring methane hydrate released from the sea floor (780 m, 4.3°C) by remotely operated vehicle (ROV) disturbance. Images of buoyant sediment‐coated solids rising (∼0.24 m/s) from the debris cloud, soon revealed clear crystals of methane hydrate as surficial material sloughed off. Decomposition and visible degassing began close to the predicted phase boundary, yet pieces initially of ∼0.10 m size easily survived transit to the surface ocean. Smaller pieces dissolved or dissociated before reaching the surface ocean, yet effectively transferred gas to depths where atmospheric ventilation times are short relative to methane oxidation rates.