"Rising Arctic Ocean temperatures cause gas hydrate destabilization and ocean acidification," by A. Biastoch et al., GRL 38 (2011)

Geophysical Research Letters, 38, (2011) L08602; doi: 10.1029/2011GL047222

Rising Arctic Ocean temperatures cause gas hydrate destabilization and ocean acidification

A. Biastoch¹, T. Treude¹, L. H. Rüpke¹, U. Riebesell¹, C. Roth¹, E. B. Burwicz¹, W. Park¹, M. Latif¹, C. W. Böning¹, G. Madec² and K. Wallmann¹

¹Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften an der Universität Kiel (IFM-GEOMAR), Kiel, Germany.

²Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentation et Approches Numérique, Paris, France.

Abstract

Vast amounts of methane hydrates are potentially stored in sediments along the continental margins, owing their stability to low temperature – high pressure conditions. Global warming could destabilize these hydrates and cause a release of methane (CH₄) into the water column and possibly the atmosphere. Since the Arctic has and will be warmed considerably, Arctic bottom water temperatures and their future evolution projected by a climate model were analyzed. The resulting warming is spatially inhomogeneous, with the strongest impact on shallow regions affected by Atlantic inflow. Within the next 100 years, the warming affects 25% of shallow and mid-depth regions containing methane hydrates. Release of methane from melting hydrates in these areas could enhance ocean acidification and oxygen depletion in the water column. The impact of methane release on global warming, however, would not be significant within the considered time span.

Received 21 February 2011, accepted 8 March 2011, published 16 April 2011.

Citation: Biastoch, A., et al. (2011), Rising Arctic Ocean temperatures cause gas hydrate destabilization and ocean acidification, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L08602, doi:10.1029/2011GL047222.

http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2011/2011GL047222.shtml