The Relationship of Sulfate-methane Interface, the Methane Flux and the Underlying Gas Hydrate.
The sulfate-methane interface is an important biogeochemical identification interface for the areas with high methane flux and containing gas hydrate. Above the sulfate-methane interface, the sulfate concentration in the sediment is consumed progressively for the decomposition of the organic matter and anaerobic methane oxidation. Below the sulfate-methane interface, the methane concentration increases continuously with the depth. Based on the variation characters of the sulfate and methane concentration around the sulfate-methane interface, it is feasible to estimate the intensity of the methane flux, and thereafter to infer the possible occurrence of gas hydrate. The geochemical data of the pore water taken from the northern slope of the South China Sea show the sulfate-methane interface is relatively shallow, which indicates that this area has the high methane flux. It is considered that the high methane flux is most probably caused by the occurrence of underlying gas hydrate in the northern slope of the South China Sea.
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Contribution biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2008
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| Subjects: | Sulfates, Gas hydrates, Methane, Interfaces, |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/5880 |
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