Dynamic simulations of potential methane release from East Siberian continental slope sediments. (12th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stranne, C.; O'Regan, M.; Dickens, G. R.; Crill, P.; Miller, C.; Preto, P.; Jakobsson, M.
• Is Part Of: Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems. Volume 17:Number 3(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 872
• Page End: 886
• Publication Date: 2016-03-12
• Subjects: hydrate dissociation -- Arctic -- tough + hydrate -- hydrate modeling -- sediment gas retention; Geochemistry -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Periodicals; 550.5
• DOI: 10.1002/2015GC006119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1525-2027

Abstract

Abstract: Sediments deposited along continental margins of the Arctic Ocean presumably host large amounts of methane (CH4 ) in gas hydrates. Here we apply numerical simulations to assess the potential of gas hydrate dissociation and methane release from the East Siberian slope over the next 100 years. Simulations are based on a hypothesized bottom water warming of 3°C, and an assumed starting distribution of gas hydrate. The simulation results show that gas hydrate dissociation in these sediments is relatively slow, and that CH4 fluxes toward the seafloor are limited by low sediment permeability. The latter is true even when sediment fractures are permitted to form in response to overpressure in pore space. With an initial gas hydrate distribution dictated by present‐day pressure and temperature conditions, nominally 0.35 Gt of CH4 are released from the East Siberian slope during the first 100 years of the simulation. However, this CH4 discharge becomes significantly smaller (∼0.05 Gt) if glacial sea level changes in the Arctic Ocean are considered. This is because a lower sea level during the last glacial maximum (LGM) must result in depleted gas hydrate abundance within the most sensitive region of the modern gas hydrate stability zone. Even if all released CH4 reached the atmosphere, the amount coming from East Siberian slopes would be trivial compared to present‐day atmospheric CH4 inputs from other sources. Key Points: Modeled fluxes are <0.1% of global atmospheric CH4 budget About 70% of produced CH4 from dissociation remains trapped in the sediments The amount of hydrate on continental slopes and potential fluxes depend strongly on past sea level