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Methane-Hydrate I & II
Miniature Diptych 3.5" x 5" each.
In 2012 arctic climate researchers observed meters wide oceanic fountains of methane believed to be coming from melting hydrate. In 2013, the same researchers documented methane fountains that were KILOMETERS in diameter.
While public awareness of global warming has begun to gain momentum, it is not yet generally understood that warming may be a spark that initiates more rapid uncontrollable temperature increases. The release of methane from methane hydrate is a particularly important potential spark. Methane-hydrate is methane gas trapped in undersea ice and permafrost. Sometimes called "fire ice," it is ice that burns. As the flame burns and the ice melts, additional methane is released and the fire grows. When methane escapes directly into the air without burning, it becomes a greenhouse gas that is at least 20 times more potent at raising temperatures than carbon dioxide. The concern is that as the environment heats up, methane will escape from methane hydrate. Growing quantities of free methane will further elevate global temperatures and contribute to more rapid melting. The recent data on KILOMETER wide plumes of oceanic methane gives reason for prompt, detailed, investigation. As a consequence of the feedback cycle between warming and melting, vast fountains of oceanic methane could initiate rapid uncontrollable heating of the atmosphere regardless of changes that we make in limiting our own industrial greenhouse emissions.
At the same time, the energy potential of methane-hydrate is estimated to rival the reserves of all other fossil fuels combined. In addition, methane burns relatively cleanly, producing more water than CO2. Extraction is currently expensive and complicated, and has the potential to destabilize methane-hydrate stores and contribute to global warming. There are some hopes that CO2 could actually be substituted for methane, sequestering one green house gas, while simultaneously acquiring methane for human use. In 2013, with shadow of Fukashima looming large, and limited alternatives for independently addressing it's own energy needs, Japanese researchers successfully produced usable fuel from methane-hydrate. Japan is enthusiastically pursuing this resource.
The kindness and cruelty of nature depends upon one's perspective and the relationships we have with her. We have yet to see if methane-hydrate will turn out to be a demon from a watery grave or a queen bringing fire and light from her palace of ice.
Please feel free to use and share these images, and more importantly, to spread the word, so that we may all be more alert and attentive to this important global concern. There may be far less time than we have anticipated.
Some selected resources: An excellent UCSD open course on climate change: earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmus…
Lead Researcher Natalia Shakhova discusses some of these issues: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx1Jxk…
Expedition Page for the most recent research program around the East Siberian Ice Shelf. www.swerus-c3.geo.su.se/
Miniature Diptych 3.5" x 5" each.
In 2012 arctic climate researchers observed meters wide oceanic fountains of methane believed to be coming from melting hydrate. In 2013, the same researchers documented methane fountains that were KILOMETERS in diameter.
While public awareness of global warming has begun to gain momentum, it is not yet generally understood that warming may be a spark that initiates more rapid uncontrollable temperature increases. The release of methane from methane hydrate is a particularly important potential spark. Methane-hydrate is methane gas trapped in undersea ice and permafrost. Sometimes called "fire ice," it is ice that burns. As the flame burns and the ice melts, additional methane is released and the fire grows. When methane escapes directly into the air without burning, it becomes a greenhouse gas that is at least 20 times more potent at raising temperatures than carbon dioxide. The concern is that as the environment heats up, methane will escape from methane hydrate. Growing quantities of free methane will further elevate global temperatures and contribute to more rapid melting. The recent data on KILOMETER wide plumes of oceanic methane gives reason for prompt, detailed, investigation. As a consequence of the feedback cycle between warming and melting, vast fountains of oceanic methane could initiate rapid uncontrollable heating of the atmosphere regardless of changes that we make in limiting our own industrial greenhouse emissions.
At the same time, the energy potential of methane-hydrate is estimated to rival the reserves of all other fossil fuels combined. In addition, methane burns relatively cleanly, producing more water than CO2. Extraction is currently expensive and complicated, and has the potential to destabilize methane-hydrate stores and contribute to global warming. There are some hopes that CO2 could actually be substituted for methane, sequestering one green house gas, while simultaneously acquiring methane for human use. In 2013, with shadow of Fukashima looming large, and limited alternatives for independently addressing it's own energy needs, Japanese researchers successfully produced usable fuel from methane-hydrate. Japan is enthusiastically pursuing this resource.
The kindness and cruelty of nature depends upon one's perspective and the relationships we have with her. We have yet to see if methane-hydrate will turn out to be a demon from a watery grave or a queen bringing fire and light from her palace of ice.
Please feel free to use and share these images, and more importantly, to spread the word, so that we may all be more alert and attentive to this important global concern. There may be far less time than we have anticipated.
Some selected resources: An excellent UCSD open course on climate change: earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmus…
Lead Researcher Natalia Shakhova discusses some of these issues: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx1Jxk…
Expedition Page for the most recent research program around the East Siberian Ice Shelf. www.swerus-c3.geo.su.se/
Image size
1400x1090px 1.63 MB
Comments6
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great job. it is divine!!