The interaction of climate change and methane hydrates

Abstract Gas hydrate, a frozen, naturally‐occurring, and highly‐concentrated form of methane, sequesters significant carbon in the global system and is stable only over a range of low‐temperature and moderate‐pressure conditions. Gas hydrate is widespread in the sediments of marine continental margins and permafrost areas, locations where ocean and atmospheric warming may perturb the hydrate stability field and lead to release of the sequestered methane into the overlying sediments and soils. Methane and methane‐derived carbon that escape from sediments and soils and reach the atmosphere could exacerbate greenhouse warming. The synergy between warming climate and gas hydrate dissociation feeds a popular…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 1139203, 1417149, 1042650, 1318102, 0849246, PLR-1417149, 1300040
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: FE0002911, DE-FE0002911, DE-FE0023495, DE-FE0028980
• UI
  Universitetet i Tromsø
• UG
  U.S. Geological Survey

  Awards: DE-FE0002911, DE-FE0005806, DE-FE0023495
• OO
  Office of Polar Programs
• DO
  Division of Ocean Sciences