 |
Woods
Hole
Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA |
|
|
Research Projects
Gas Hydrates
Gas hydrates, originally discovered in the laboratory of Sir Humphrey Davy in 1810,
are ice-like solids that consist of gas molecules (such as methane)
which are enclosed within the cage-like structure of water molecules.
Methane hydrates
Methane trapped in marine sediments as a hydrate
represents an immense carbon reservoir. Additional information
about gas and methane hydrates was published in February, 2004 in an
article by Jean Whelan in the online version of Oceanus.
Climate Change
Methane is a 'greenhouse' gas and is therefore also of interest
with regard to it's role in climate change.
The image below depicts mechanisms by which gas hydrates influence the environment.
|
|
|
