Potier, Beth

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UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methane for Gas Hydrates in Arctic Potent greenhouse gas is "locked up" away from atmosphere  Tuesday, March 31, 2015 •  •  •   LOOKING TOWARD SVALBARD, AN ARCHIPELAGO OFF THE COAST OF NORWAY, FROM THE ISFJORDEN FJORD   Research led by a UNH professor has identified a new source of methane for gas hydrates — ice-like substances found in sediment that trap methane within the crystal structure of frozen water — in the Arctic Ocean. The findings, published online now in the May 2015 journal Geology, point to a previously undiscovered, stable reservoir for abiotic methane — methane not generated by decomposing carbon — that is “locked” away from the atmosphere, where it could impact global climate change. “We’ve found an example where methane produced at a mid-ocean ridge is locked up in stable, deep water gas hydrate, preventing it from possibly getting out of the seafloor,” says lead author Joel Johnson, associate professor of geology at UNH and guest researcher at the Center for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE) at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø. Johnson notes that the findings, which pinpointed a source of abiotic methane produced in seafloor crust, indicate gas hydrates throughout the Arctic may be supplied by a significant portion of abiotic gas.    The study, “Abiotic methane from ultraslow-spreading ridges can charge Arctic gas hydrates,” focused on the Arctic mid-ocean ridge system, one of two so-called ultraslow-spreading ridge regions on Earth. Scientists have known that abiotic methane can be generated in these ridges through a process called serpentization, which involves the reaction of seawater with hot mantle-derived rocks exposed during slow to ultraslow mid-ocean ridge spreading. While on sabbatical last year (2013-14) at CAGE, Johnson and his co-authors from that institution embarked on two cruises in the unique geologic and oceanographic region called the Fram Strait, a deep, narrow gateway to the Arctic Ocean between Greenland and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. There, fast-moving currents move sediment, uncommon on most mid-ocean ridges, into sediment drifts that cover the ridges. Using a seismic data acquisition system, they found a methane hydrate system within those sediments. The discovery surprised the researchers. “We didn’t know whether or not abiotic methane could supply gas hydrate systems so close to mid-ocean ridges” Johnson says. “It had been thought that mid-ocean ridge environments might be too hot for gas hydrates to be stable.” Indeed, those methane hydrates are remarkably stable: The researchers showed that the hydrate system is long-lived, about two million years old. Further, because the hydrates exist under very deep water — more than 1,500 meters — the methane is less vulnerable to potential release due to changing sea levels or ocean warming. Such stability has important implications for climate change; as a greenhouse gas, methane is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.  UNH geologist Joel Johnson (center, with beard) prepares to collect seismic data on board the research vessel Helmer Hanssen in the Fram Strait “This work shows there are parts of the Arctic where abiotic methane is coming up to the seafloor and instead of coming out, it is trapped in gas hydrates; it’s finding itself in a stable environment for millions of years,” says Johnson. Where climate change is concerned, he adds, “this is not the part of the gas hydrate system that is most susceptible to change in a warming Arctic Ocean.”  Although his focus is on the crust of the Earth, not interplanetary space, Johnson notes that these findings are interesting, as some researchers have suggested abiotic methane formed by serpentinization may exist and reside as gas hydrates on Mars. And as gas hydrates gain popularity as potential fuel for the future here on Earth, the energy sector is likely to take notice as well. “This is a new source of methane for gas hydrates in the Arctic that could be quite extensive,” Johnson says. The study is available online here.  • WRITTEN BY: Beth Potier | Communications and Public Affairs | beth.potier@unh.edu | 2-1566 GLOBAL REACH  UNH Today is produced for the UNH community and for friends of UNH. The stories are written by the staff of UNH Communications and Public Affairs. Email us: unhtoday.editor@unh.edu. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION      CONTACT US    Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   Follow us on YouTube   Follow us on Instagram   Find us on LinkIn   UNH Today RSS feeds UNH Today  •  UNH Main Directory: 603-862-1234 Copyright © 2021  •  TTY Users: 7-1-1 or 800-735-2964 (Relay NH) USNH Privacy Policies  •  USNH Terms of Use  •  ADA Acknowledgement  

UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methane for Gas Hydrates in Arctic

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices3-30-2015UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methanefor Gas Hydrates in ArcticBeth PotierUNH Media RelationsFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationPotier, Beth, "UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methane for Gas Hydrates in Arctic" (2015). UNH Today. 4629.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/4629Looking toward Svalbard, an archipelago off the coast of Norway, from the Isfjorden fjord. Credit: Courtesy of Joel Johnson. March 30, 2015 UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methane for Gas Hydrates in Arctic DURHAM, N.H. Research led by a University of New Hampshire professor has identified a new source of methane for gas ­­ hydrates ice­like substances found in sediment that trap methane within the crystal structure of frozen water ­­ in the Arctic Ocean. The findings, published online now in the May 2015 journal Geology, point to a previously undiscovered, stable reservoir for abiotic methane ­ methane not generated by decomposing carbon ­ that is “locked” away from the atmosphere, where it could impact global climate change.“We’ve found an example where methane produced at a mid­ocean ridge is locked up in stable, deep water gas hydrate, preventing it from possibly getting out of the seafloor,” says lead author Joel Johnson, associate professor of geology at UNH and guest researcher at the Center for Arctic Gas Hydrate, Environment and Climate (CAGE) at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø. Johnson notes that the findings, which pinpointed a source of abiotic methane ­ produced in seafloor crust, indicate gas hydrates throughout the Arctic may be supplied by a significant portion of abiotic gas.   The study, “Abiotic methane from ultraslow­spreading ridges can charge Arctic gas hydrates,”focused on the Arctic mid­ocean ridge system, one of two so­called ultraslow­spreading ridge regions on Earth. Scientists have known that abiotic methane can be generated in these ridges through a process called serpentization, which involves the reaction of seawater with hot mantle­derived rocks exposed during slow to ultraslow mid­ocean ridge spreading.Media RelationsPage 1 of 3UNH News: UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methane for Gas Hydrates in Arctic2/20/2018http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/releases/2015/03/bp30gashydrate.cfm.htmlWhile on sabbatical last year (2013­14) at CAGE, Johnson and his co­authors from that institution embarked on two cruises in the unique geologic and oceanographic region called the Fram Strait, a deep, narrow gateway to the Arctic Ocean between Greenland and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard. There, fast­moving currents move sediment, uncommon on most mid­ocean ridges, into sediment drifts that cover the ridges. Using a seismic data acquisition system, they found a methane hydrate system within those sediments.The discovery surprised the researchers. “We didn’t know whether or not abiotic methane could supply gas hydrate systems so close to mid­ocean ridges” Johnson says. “It had been thought that mid­ocean ridge environments might be too hot for gas hydrates to be stable.”Indeed, those methane hydrates are remarkably stable: The researchers showed that the hydrate system is long­lived, about two million years old. Further, because the hydrates exist under very deep water ­­ more than 1500 meters ­­ the methane is less vulnerable to potential release due to changing sea levels or ocean warming. Such stability has important implications for climate change; as a greenhouse gas, methane is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide.“This work shows there are parts of the Arctic where abiotic methane is coming up to the seafloor and instead of coming out, it is trapped in gas hydrates; it’s finding itself in a stable environment for millions of years,” says Johnson. Where climate change is concerned, he adds, “this is not the part of the gas hydrate system that is most susceptible to change in a warming Arctic Ocean.” Although his focus is on the crust of the Earth, not interplanetary space, Johnson notes that these findings are interesting, as some researchers have suggested abiotic methane formed by serpentinization may exist and reside as gas hydrates on Mars. And as gas hydrates gain popularity as potential fuel for the future here on Earth, the energy sector is likely to take notice as well. “This is a new source of methane for gas hydrates in the Arctic that could be quite extensive,” Johnson says.The study is available online here. Co­authors on the study are Jürgen Mienert, Andreia Plaza­Faverola, Sunil Vadakkepuliyambatta, Jochen Knies, Stefan Bünz, Karin Andreassen and Bénédicte Ferré, all of CAGE. The research was partly supported by the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme (project number 223259). Additional sabbatical support for Johnson was provided by UNH and the U.S. Department of Energy.The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world­class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space­grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,300 undergraduate and 2,200 graduate students.Photographs available to download:http://www.unh.edu/news/releases/2015/03/images/oct.­2013­launching­p­cable­seismic­acqusition­system­9144.jpgCaption: The University of New Hampshire geologist Joel Johnson (center, with beard) prepares to collect seismic data on board the research vessel Helmer Hanssen in the Fram Strait.Credit: Courtesy of Joel Johnson.Page 2 of 3UNH News: UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methane for Gas Hydrates in Arctic2/20/2018http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/releases/2015/03/bp30gashydrate.cfm.htmlhttp://www.unh.edu/news/releases/2015/03/images/oct.­2013­lonyearbyen,­svalbard­3891.jpgCaption: Looking toward Svalbard, an archipelago off the coast of Norway, from the Isfjorden fjord.Credit: Courtesy of Joel Johnson. Joel Johnson is available at joel.johnson@unh.edu or 603­862­4080.Media Contact: Beth Potier | 603­862­1566 | UNH Media Relations | @unhnews | @unhscienceCopyright © 2018, The University of New Hampshire  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  UNH main directory: (603) 862­1234. Media Relations is a unit of Communications & Public Affairs which is a division of University Advancement. ADA Acknowledgement | Contact the Webmaster | UNH Today | UNH Social Media IndexPage 3 of 3UNH News: UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methane for Gas Hydrates in Arctic2/20/2018http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/releases/2015/03/bp30gashydrate.cfm.html

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UNH Geologist Identifies New Source of Methane for Gas Hydrates in Arctic

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