DEGASSING OF THE BLACK SEA BOTTOM: SIGNIFICANCE FOR GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION, ECOLOGY AND NAVIGATION
Journal Title: Вісник Одеського національного університету. Географічні та геологічні науки - Year 2014, Vol 19, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper is devoted to a review of modern ideas about degassing (mainly methane) from the bottom of the Black Sea. The main goal is to describe methane emissions on the sea bottom, to delineate their spatial distribution, and to provide insight into their possible origin as well as their influence on ecosystems and navigation. It is shown that the Black Sea is the largest meromictic basin, waters of which are enriched with methane. As such, the basin holds great promise for new energy sources to supply the Black Sea countries, and most of Europe as well. The amount of methane is several times larger than the known gas reservoirs on Earth. Its presence under the sea bottom is evident from outbursts of submarine mud volcanoes that commonly contain ice-like aggregates of gas (largely methane) hydrates as well as many high-intensity gas seeps and gas bogs that release huge quantities of methane. While gas hydrates accumulate methane, submarine mud volcanoes, gas seeps, and gas bogs release it into the water column largely from deep sources, and much less often as a product of biochemical processes in bottom sediments. There is a certain zoning in the distribution of methane emissions, in particular, seepы are located on the periphery of the basin while gas hydrates are distributed within its central part. While gas seeps can be used as indicators for oil exploration, mud volcanoes can indicate the oil and gas deposits under the sea bottom. An interconnection between mud volcanoes and gas hydrates cannot be excluded. It appears that methane in the sea water affects biota in a negative way. Eruptions of mud volcanoes are dangerous for navigation and communications or industrial equipment (cables, gas pipes, etc.) on the sea bottom.
Authors and Affiliations
E. F. Shnyukov, V. V. Yanko
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP400205
- DOI -
- Views 65
- Downloads 0
THE ROLE OF HYDROGEOCHEMICAL FACTORS IN KARST PROCESSES ON THE TERRITORY OF RIVNE NPP
The purpose of the research is to identify the complex impact of hydrogeochemical factors to karst processes and estimation of its magnitude.Methodology. Methods of non-parametric Spearman rank correlation coefficient an...
THE ORIGINS AND USE OF THE TOPONYM GREAT ADZHALYK ESTUARY (BLACK SEA)
Problem Statement and Purpose. For the purposes of cartography and hydrography, geographical names of most estuaries in the northwestern part of the Black Sea have been standardized by the 1930s. Since that time, the geo...
CHERNOZEM SOILS OF ZMIINY ISLAND – GEOGRAPHICGENETIC FEATURES AND TRENDS OF EVOLUTION
Problem Statement and Purpose. Even the first researchers of the nature of the small (20.5 hectares) rocky Zmiiny Island in the northwestern Black Sea region visually diagnosed the soil there with black earth. However, t...
RENDZINAS OF THE NORTHERN MOLDOVA FOREST-STEPPE
Purpose. On the territory of Moldova the rendzina soils are developed on the toltrel ridges and on exposed limestone surfaces in valleys of the Dniester and Prut rivers and its numerous tributaries. The aim of the study...
NATURAL FACTORS, CONDITIONS AND PROCESSES OF LOWER DNIESTROVSKIY NATIONAL NATURAL PARK SOIL FORMATION
The main objective of the work – is to examine natural factors, conditions and processes of soil formation and to characterize the soils of Lower Dniestrovskiy national natural park (LDNNP) territory. The object of inves...