Methane clathrate stability versus the environment
Anna Rabajczyk
Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide or water vapour are the most frequently discussed when climate change issues are raised. However, nowadays methane, whose potential is 21 times higher than that of carbon dioxide, is more and more often mentioned. Methane clathrates also called methane hydrate are one of the emission sources of this gas. They occur in sea and oceanic sediments. These compounds are stable under specific physicochemical conditions. A change of chemical composition of bottom deposit, aqueous solution surrounding clathrates or physical parameters like temperature and pressure may cause destabilization of gas hydrate which results in methane rapid release to water and then to the atmosphere. Methane deposits in form of methane clathrate arouse mixed emotions. There are hopes for obtaining huge amounts of “green fuel” as an alternative to petroleum or natural gas, on the other hand they arouse anxiety of climate hazard thus hazard for Earth’s life.
