Environmental impact of Methane seepage and sub-seabed characterization at LoVe - Node 7
Informations
- Funding country
Norway- Acronym
- -
- URL
- -
- Start date
- 1/1/2021
- End date
- 12/31/2025
- Budget
- 2,249,670 EUR
Fundings
| Name | Role | Start | End | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PETROMAKS2 - Large-scale programme on petroleum | Grant | - | - | 2,249,670 EUR |
Abstract
The world is at a critical moment in its history due to the threat posed by climate change. Scientists and policy makers have focused a lot of time and energy to tackle the consequences of the anthropogenic sources of carbon dioxide (CO2). Methane (CH4) however, should also be at the forefront of our mind, as it is a more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2. The release of methane form marine sources is still a mystery. Bottom water warming may increase the release of CH4 into the water column due to melting of the methane ice ? hydrate. This is a solid form of CH4 present in large sub-seabed reservoirs, stabilized by cold temperatures and high pressure. Oil and gas exploration may also disturb this fragile equilibrium, releasing more CH4 in the water column. The gas can increase ocean acidity, threatening the health of local ecosystems. If this potent greenhouse gas reaches the atmosphere, it will increase the global budget of greenhouse gases. The Hola trough in the Lofoten-Vesterålen area hosts a large cold coral reef system and is of importance to enormous fish stock in the area. It is also a site of methane release from the ocean floor. Why are coral reefs thriving there despite a possible ocean acidification due to CH4 emission? What is influencing this release and how does it influence the surrounding sub-seafloor and water column? How long has the methane been leaking there? Where does it go? How much carbon is expelled from the seafloor? EMAN7 will answer these questions by using the state-of-the-art cabled observatory facility Lofoten-Vesterålen (LoVe) as well as conducting annual research surveys. One of the LoVe observatories is deployed in a methane seepage area, providing a continuous, wide range of physical, biological and chemical measurements. These parameters will provide cross-disciplinary research team with a complete picture of the ecosystem response to CH4 seepage, giving us an insight as to what happens to this seepage system itself over time.