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Gas hydrates—geological perspective and global change
Author(s) -
Kvenvolden Keith A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/93rg00268
Subject(s) - clathrate hydrate , methane , permafrost , greenhouse gas , earth science , global warming , geology , fossil fuel , natural gas , seafloor spreading , climate change , geohazard , environmental science , oceanography , geomorphology , hydrate , waste management , chemistry , landslide , organic chemistry , engineering
Natural gas hydrates occur worldwide in polar regions, normally associated with onshore and offshore permafrost, and in sediment of outer continental and insular margins. The total amount of methane in gas hydrates likely exceeds 10 19 g of methane carbon. Three aspects of gas hydrates are important: their fossil fuel resource potential, their role as a submarine geohazard, and their effects on global climate change. Because gas hydrates represent a large amount of methane within 2000 m of the Earth's surface, they are considered to be an unconventional, unproven source of fossil fuel. Because gas hydrates are metastable, changes of pressure and temperature affect their stability. Destabilized gas hydrates beneath the seafloor lead to geologic hazards such as submarine slumps and slides, examples of which are found worldwide. Destabilized gas hydrates may also affect climate through the release of methane, a “greenhouse” gas, which may enhance global warming and be a factor in global climate change.