Glacigenic sedimentation pulses triggered post-glacial gas hydrate dissociation

Jens Karstens (), Haflidi Haflidason, Lukas W. M. Becker, Christian Berndt, Lars Rüpke, Sverre Planke, Volker Liebetrau, Mark Schmidt and Jürgen Mienert
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Jens Karstens: University of Bergen
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)
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

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03043-z

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