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Glacigenic sedimentation pulses triggered post-glacial gas hydrate dissociation

Author

Listed:
  • Jens Karstens

    (University of Bergen
    GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Haflidi Haflidason

    (University of Bergen)

  • Lukas W. M. Becker

    (University of Bergen)

  • Christian Berndt

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Lars Rüpke

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Sverre Planke

    (Volcanic Basin Petroleum Research (VBPR)
    University of Oslo)

  • Volker Liebetrau

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Mark Schmidt

    (GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel)

  • Jürgen Mienert

    (UiT - The Arctic University of Norway)

Abstract

Large amounts of methane are stored in continental margins as gas hydrates. They are stable under high pressure and low temperature, but react sensitively to environmental changes. Bottom water temperature and sea level changes were considered as main contributors to gas hydrate dynamics after the last glaciation. However, here we show with numerical simulations that pulses of increased sedimentation dominantly controlled hydrate stability during the end of the last glaciation offshore mid-Norway. Sedimentation pulses triggered widespread gas hydrate dissociation and explains the formation of ubiquitous blowout pipes in water depths of 600 to 800 m. Maximum gas hydrate dissociation correlates spatially and temporally with the formation or reactivation of pockmarks, which is constrained by radiocarbon dating of Isorropodon nyeggaensis bivalve shells. Our results highlight that rapid changes of sedimentation can have a strong impact on gas hydrate systems affecting fluid flow and gas seepage activity, slope stability and the carbon cycle.

Suggested Citation

  • Jens Karstens & Haflidi Haflidason & Lukas W. M. Becker & Christian Berndt & Lars Rüpke & Sverre Planke & Volker Liebetrau & Mark Schmidt & Jürgen Mienert, 2018. "Glacigenic sedimentation pulses triggered post-glacial gas hydrate dissociation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03043-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03043-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Ewa Burwicz & Lars Rüpke, 2019. "Thermal State of the Blake Ridge Gas Hydrate Stability Zone (GHSZ)—Insights on Gas Hydrate Dynamics from a New Multi-Phase Numerical Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-24, September.

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