Indications for the Occurrence of Gas Hydrates in the Fram Strait from Heat Flow and Multichannel Seismic Reflection Data

• Published in: Journal of Geological Research
• Main Authors: Geissler, Wolfram H., Pulm, Pia V., Jokat, Wilfried, Gebhardt, A. Catalina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Hindawi Publishing Corporation 2014
• Subjects: Fram Strait; Greenland; Yermak plateau
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/34850/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/34850/1/Geissler_etal_2014_582424_GasHydrates_FramStrait.pdf; http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jgr/2014/582424/; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.43004; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.43004.d001

The distribution of gas hydrates recently raised increased attention, especially along glaciated continental margins, due to its potential importance for slope stability and global climate. We present new heat flow data together with multichannel reflection seismic data fromthe central FramStrait in-between Northeast Greenland and Svalbard.This area is only accessible by icebreaking vessels, and, therefore, knowledge about this area is still sparse.The new heat flow data concur with previous measurements in the region.High temperature gradients of >200mK/mwere recorded along the active spreading zone in the FramStrait, and gradients of 75 mK/m along the western slope of Yermak Plateau. Along the Northeast Greenland slope, the measured gradients reach 54 mK/m at maximum. Seismic data image bottom-simulating reflections proofing that the known gas-hydrate province spreadsmuch further north along thewestern slope of the Yermak Plateau than previously known. Existing slide scars indicate that there might be a causal relationship between the occurrence of gas hydrates and slope instability in that area. Along the Northeast Greenland continental margin and in the adjacent abyssal plain, strong indications for the occurrence of gas within the sedimentary basins and for its migration along fault zones and chimney-like structures are found.