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Methane Flux and Authigenic Carbonate in Shallow Sediments Overlying Methane Hydrate Bearing Strata in Alaminos Canyon, Gulf of Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph P. Smith

    (Oceanography Department, U.S. Naval Academy, 572C Holloway Road, Annapolis, MD 21402, USA)

  • Richard B. Coffin

    (Marine Biogeochemistry (Code 6114), U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USA
    Current Address: Department of Physical and Environment Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX 78412, USA)

Abstract

In June 2007 sediment cores were collected in Alaminos Canyon, Gulf of Mexico across a series of seismic data profiles indicating rapid transitions between the presence of methane hydrates and vertical gas flux. Vertical profiles of dissolved sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations in porewaters, headspace methane, and solid phase carbonate concentrations were measured at each core location to investigate the cycling of methane-derived carbon in shallow sediments overlying the hydrate bearing strata. When integrated with stable carbon isotope ratios of DIC, geochemical results suggest a significant fraction of the methane flux at this site is cycled into the inorganic carbon pool. The incorporation of methane-derived carbon into dissolved and solid inorganic carbon phases represents a significant sink in local carbon cycling and plays a role in regulating the flux of methane to the overlying water column at Alaminos Canyon. Targeted, high-resolution geochemical characterization of the biogeochemical cycling of methane-derived carbon in shallow sediments overlying hydrate bearing strata like those in Alaminos Canyon is critical to quantifying methane flux and estimating methane hydrate distributions in gas hydrate bearing marine sediments.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph P. Smith & Richard B. Coffin, 2014. "Methane Flux and Authigenic Carbonate in Shallow Sediments Overlying Methane Hydrate Bearing Strata in Alaminos Canyon, Gulf of Mexico," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-24, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:7:y:2014:i:9:p:6118-6141:d:40517
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Richard B. Coffin & Leila J. Hamdan & Joseph P. Smith & Paula S. Rose & Rebecca E. Plummer & Brandon Yoza & Ingo Pecher & Michael T. Montgomery, 2014. "Contribution of Vertical Methane Flux to Shallow Sediment Carbon Pools across Porangahau Ridge, New Zealand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-25, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Richard B. Coffin & Gareth Crutchley & Ingo Pecher & Brandon Yoza & Thomas J. Boyd & Joshu Mountjoy, 2022. "Porewater Geochemical Assessment of Seismic Indications for Gas Hydrate Presence and Absence: Mahia Slope, East of New Zealand’s North Island," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Richard B. Coffin & Joseph P. Smith & Brandon Yoza & Thomas J. Boyd & Michael T. Montgomery, 2017. "Spatial Variation in Sediment Organic Carbon Distribution across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea Shelf," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-21, August.

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    1. Richard B. Coffin & Gareth Crutchley & Ingo Pecher & Brandon Yoza & Thomas J. Boyd & Joshu Mountjoy, 2022. "Porewater Geochemical Assessment of Seismic Indications for Gas Hydrate Presence and Absence: Mahia Slope, East of New Zealand’s North Island," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Richard B. Coffin & Joseph P. Smith & Brandon Yoza & Thomas J. Boyd & Michael T. Montgomery, 2017. "Spatial Variation in Sediment Organic Carbon Distribution across the Alaskan Beaufort Sea Shelf," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-21, August.
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