Abstract
The seepage of methane (CH4) through the seabed of the world's shelves is considered to be ubiquitous. Although numerous observations of methane seepages from shallow marine sources have been reported, there were only a very few observations made over the Arctic shelves and none for the East-Siberian Sea (ESS) or Laptev Sea (LS). We present two years of data obtained during the late summer period (September 2003 and September 2004) for both the ESS and LS shelves. According to our data, the surface layer of shelf water was supersaturated up to 2500% relative to the present average atmospheric methane content of 1.85 ppm. Anomalously high concentrations (up to 154 nM or 4400% supersaturation) of dissolved methane in the bottom layer of shelf water suggest that the bottom layer is somehow affected by near-bottom sources. Considering the possible formation mechanisms of such plumes, we favor thermo-abrasion and the effects of shallow gas or gas hydrates release.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1-4 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Geophysical Research Letters |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 16 May 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geophysics
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
Cite this
The distribution of methane on the Siberian Arctic shelves : Implications for the marine methane cycle. / Shakhova, Natalia; Semiletov, Igor; Panteleev, Gleb.
In: Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 32, No. 9, 16.05.2005, p. 1-4.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The distribution of methane on the Siberian Arctic shelves
T2 - Implications for the marine methane cycle
AU - Shakhova, Natalia
AU - Semiletov, Igor
AU - Panteleev, Gleb
PY - 2005/5/16
Y1 - 2005/5/16
N2 - The seepage of methane (CH4) through the seabed of the world's shelves is considered to be ubiquitous. Although numerous observations of methane seepages from shallow marine sources have been reported, there were only a very few observations made over the Arctic shelves and none for the East-Siberian Sea (ESS) or Laptev Sea (LS). We present two years of data obtained during the late summer period (September 2003 and September 2004) for both the ESS and LS shelves. According to our data, the surface layer of shelf water was supersaturated up to 2500% relative to the present average atmospheric methane content of 1.85 ppm. Anomalously high concentrations (up to 154 nM or 4400% supersaturation) of dissolved methane in the bottom layer of shelf water suggest that the bottom layer is somehow affected by near-bottom sources. Considering the possible formation mechanisms of such plumes, we favor thermo-abrasion and the effects of shallow gas or gas hydrates release.
AB - The seepage of methane (CH4) through the seabed of the world's shelves is considered to be ubiquitous. Although numerous observations of methane seepages from shallow marine sources have been reported, there were only a very few observations made over the Arctic shelves and none for the East-Siberian Sea (ESS) or Laptev Sea (LS). We present two years of data obtained during the late summer period (September 2003 and September 2004) for both the ESS and LS shelves. According to our data, the surface layer of shelf water was supersaturated up to 2500% relative to the present average atmospheric methane content of 1.85 ppm. Anomalously high concentrations (up to 154 nM or 4400% supersaturation) of dissolved methane in the bottom layer of shelf water suggest that the bottom layer is somehow affected by near-bottom sources. Considering the possible formation mechanisms of such plumes, we favor thermo-abrasion and the effects of shallow gas or gas hydrates release.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=21044459520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=21044459520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2005GL022751
DO - 10.1029/2005GL022751
M3 - Article
VL - 32
SP - 1
EP - 4
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
SN - 0094-8276
IS - 9
ER -