Methane hydrates and global climate

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (USA)

OSTI ID:6657129

Kvenvolden, K A ^[1]

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1. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (USA)

Methane hydrates are globally widespread in permafrost regions and beneath the sea in sediment of outer continental margins. The amount of methane sequestered in gas hydrates is probably enormous, but estimates of the amounts are speculative and range over three orders of magnitude (about 1,000 to 1,000,000 gigatons). A question of current interest concerns the possible consequences of an addition of methane to the atmosphere from destabilized methane hydrates due to global warming. Models of greenhouse warming predict that climatic change will be greatest in the Arctic. Thus, if methane from destabilized gas hydrates contributes to greenhouse warming, this stabilization will most likely take place first in the Arctic, particularly in the shallow nearshore regions of the Arctic Ocean where offshore permafrost is found. The process of permafrost warming and release of methane from gas hydrates may already be in progress, but the amount being released now and to be released in the 21st century is probably small. The positive feedback of this atmospheric methane on global climates will likely be minimal. 48 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6657129
• Journal Information: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (USA), Journal Name: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (USA) Vol. 2:3; ISSN 0886-6236; ISSN GBCYE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALKANES
ARCTIC REGIONS
CLIMATES
DIFFUSION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTION SOURCES
SEDIMENTS
VARIATIONS