Magnitude of dissociation of methane hydrate reservoir associate with climate change

• Main Authors: Guan, Baocong, Lei, Huaiyan, 雷怀彦
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: EOCENE THERMAL MAXIMUM; GULF-OF-MEXICO; GAS HYDRATE; RECORD; MODEL; OCEAN; ICE; END; Methane hydrate
• Online Access: http://dspace.xmu.edu.cn/handle/2288/60840

Methane hydrates are found in enormous quantities along all the continental margins. The magnitude of the carbon pool locked in the methane hydrate reservoir is not known precisely, but estimates range from 10(3) to 10(6) Gt C. Methane hydrates are also of interest because of their potential role in climate change. When these marine methane hydrates begin to dissociate, the methane trapped in the methane hydrates is released into the ocean and the atmosphere. This review focuses on the dissociation mechanism of methane hydrates that are rather unique and involve a number of conditions, and presents current understanding of the effects of methane hydrate on the chemical and physical properties of seawater. We discuss past events about the dissociation of methane hydrate in the various geological periods. It will be shown how the previously mentioned sufficient flux of methane from hydrate dissociation can cause an oceanic anoxic event and a major global warming. These events maybe are occurring and will be believed to influence the climate change in the future.