Thursday, Mar 28 2024
All Cities
Choose Your City
'In Buryar language Baikal is called Baigal-nuur'
0

Arctic methane gas emission 'significantly increased since 2014' - major new research 

By 0 and 0 and 0
04 October 2016

0

'The area of spread of methane mega-emissions has significantly increased in comparison with the data obtained in the period from 2011 to 2014.' Picture: TPU

The findings come from an expedition now underway led by Professor Igor Semiletov, of Tomsk Polytechnic University, on the research vessel 'Academic M.A. Lavrentyev' which left Tiksi on 24 September on a 40 day mission. 

The seeping of methane from the sea floor is greater than in previous research in the same area, notably carried out between 2011 and 2014. 

'The area of spread of methane mega-emissions has significantly increased in comparison with the data obtained in the period from 2011 to 2014,' he said. 'These observations may indicate that the rate of degradation of underwater permafrost has increased.'

Detailed findings will be presented at an international conference in Tomsk on 21 to 24 November. The research enables comparison with previously obtained data on methane emissions. 

Map


research vessel 'Academic M.A. Lavrentyev'

New expedition in Laptev Sea on the research vessel 'Academic M.A. Lavrentyev' which left Tiksi on 24 September, suggests increase in the rate of underwater permafrost degradation. Pictures: The Siberian Times, Pacific Oceanology Institute

Dr Semiletov and his team are paying special attention to clarify the role of the submarine permafrost degradation as a factor in emissions of the main greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide and methane - in the atmosphere. 

The team are examining how the ice plug that has hitherto prevented the exit of huge reserves of gas hydrates has today 'sprung a leak'. This shows in taliks - unfrozen surface surrounded by permafrost - through which powerful emissions of methane reach the atmosphere. 

Scientists are eager to determine the quantity of methane buried in those vast areas of the Siberian Arctic shelf and the impact it can have on the sensitive polar climate system.

Five years ago the professor has claimed: 'We found more than 100 fountains, some more than a kilometre across....These are methane fields on a scale not seen before. The emissions went directly into the atmosphere... Earlier we found torch or fountain-like structures like this... 

Taking samples


Taking samples

In 2104, the Russian professor said there were 500 abnormal fields of methane emissions. Picture: TPU

'This is the first time that we've found continuous, powerful and impressive seeping structures, more than 1,000 metres in diameter. It's amazing. Over a relatively small area, we found more than 100, but over a wider area, there should be thousands of them.' 

In 2013, his research partner Natalia Shakhova, a scientist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, reported in journal Nature Geoscience, that the East Siberian Arctic Shelf was venting at least 17 teragrams of the methane into the atmosphere each year. A teragram is equal to 1 million tons.

'It is now on par with the methane being released from the arctic tundra, which is considered to be one of the major sources of methane in the Northern Hemisphere,' she said. 'Increased methane releases in this area are a possible new climate-change-driven factor that will strengthen over time.'

Methane is a greenhouse gas more than 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide. On land, methane is released when previously frozen organic material decomposes. 

Professor Igor Semiletov

Dr Semiletov and his team are paying special attention to clarify the role of the submarine permafrost degradation as a factor in emissions of the main greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide and methane - in the atmosphere. Picture: TPU

Under the seabed, methane can be stored as a pre-formed gas or as methane hydrates. While  the subsea permafrost remains frozen, it forms a cap, trapping the methane beneath. But holes are now developing through which the methane escapes. 

In 2014, the Russian professor said there were 500 abnormal fields of methane emissions.

The same year he explained: 'Emissions of methane from the East Siberian Shelf - which is the widest and most shallow shelf of the World Ocean - exceed the average estimate emissions of all the world's oceans. 

'We have reason to believe that such emissions may change the climate. This is due to the fact that the reserves of methane under the submarine permafrost exceed the methane content in the atmosphere is many thousands of times. 

Measurements


Measurements

Measurments performed during the international expedition SWERUS - C3 on the research vessel Oden in 2014. Pictures: Jorien Vonk

'If 3-4% from underwater will go into the atmosphere within 10 years, the methane concentration therein (in the atmosphere) will increase by tens to hundreds of times, and this can lead to rapid climate warming. This is due to the fact that the greenhouse effect of one molecule of methane is 20-30 times greater than one molecule of CO2.' 

The new expedition was organised by the Laboratory of Arctic Research in Pacific Oceanology Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, and was  funded by the Russian Government and the Russian Science Foundation.

The results of the expedition will be discussed at the international conference, which will be attended by scientists from 12 universities and institutes of Russia, Sweden, Netherlands, Great Britain and Italy. 

Comments (24)

Professor Guy McPherson and I will be touring NZ in November discussing the runaway nature of the predicament we find ourselves in.
The tour can be followed online from anywhere as we will have a documentary maker with us and will livestream the keynote events.
Brace for imminent impact.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1144896312219485/?ref=1&action_history=%5B%7B%22surface%22%3A%22permalink%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22surface%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%5B%5D%7D%5D
Kevin Hester, Auckland New Zealand
06/10/2016 10:28
15
1
I moved here to Tasmania just to have a couple of months more to live when that big multi-teratone blast hits the atmosphere.

Lets not forget that although this is true

"'If 3-4% from underwater will go into the atmosphere within 10 years, the methane concentration therein (in the atmosphere) will increase by tens to hundreds of times, and this can lead to rapid climate warming. This is due to the fact that the greenhouse effect of one molecule of methane is 20-30 times greater than one molecule of CO2.'"

in the short term (2 years) methane is 80 times more pollutent that CO2 so no one will be here to enjoy those 20-30 times era.

The thing that makes me sicker is the fact that there is not one single politician telling the truth to the 7 billion of earthlings.

Thanks for the Siberian Times for telling it like it is.
Pedro Meyer, Tasmania
06/10/2016 00:35
20
0
Thank you Semiletov & your team! Humanity appreciates this work very much!
Ken, Flemington NJ / USA
05/10/2016 20:58
9
0
I have presented this idea to Guy McPherson and Paul Beckwith, no go. Presenting AGAIN. The problem we have is that the increase in GHG is racing ahead of Sea Level Rise, allowing further over release of GHG (methane) from various sources but particularily from shallow sea floors. Potent feedback loop ensues on and on until Venus II or Sixth Extinction arrives.



I say go with the flow. Melting Arctic and Antarctic Ice should be AIDED, not blocked. Resulting SLR should be able to partially or completely quench sea bed methane release. Deeper seas increase the pressures at depth and help lock in the frozen methane deposits.



Will it be painful?



YES, very much so, but Venus II or Sixth Extinction IS, in any time frame we can relate to, PERMANENT. Do we really want our planet's billions of years of existence, toil , advances, setbacks, to be reduced to a "Don't go this way!" lesson to the rest of the Milky Way Galaxy?



Can we not begin an orderly pull back of the coastal cities to what new shores will be INEVITABLY created anyway? We could recycle infrastructure, avoid the otherwise inevitable 400+ nuclear power plant meltdowns, transition towards new power sources, transition towards new manufacturing methods, transition towards new living arrangements, more efficient arrangements, more with less.



Just as WWII cleared away inefficient factories and methods, so can threatened Catastrophic Anthropogenic Global Warming help prepare us for a more efficient, planet sustainable, and better future. All with cooperation, hardwork, patience, maturity; not by dropping endless bombs etc.



Properly evaluated and utilized, CAGW is a planetary opportunity; scoffed at, denied, it is a planetary death sentence.



Safer future or ornate tombstone with no one left to write the epitaph. Which do we want? Do we have enough collective humility to move forward? Or shall we write a possibly unread warning at the expense of our lives and the lives of our children, grand children, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, great great great grandchildren and on and on and on. Those that due to our hard nosed ideological ways will never be born.



Zheitgheist, grandchildren, or extinction. Ideas, life, or not life. Is it really that hard to choose? If it is that difficult, then the outcome almost does not matter. Life would be too stupid to persist.

















Robert Schmidt, Tampa, Florida
05/10/2016 09:08
2
7
Thank you for your ongoing reporting of our biosphere. Anyone who is interested in CH4 clathrates knows we are now in runaway climate change.
Allan Barr, Covelo, California
05/10/2016 01:53
14
1
If the methane is tarting to leak in the Artic Cirle, whats happening to the methyl hydrade deposits at lower latitudes, where its presumable warmer? Arent there huge MH deposits along the west coast of Africa?
Stuart C., New York, NY
05/10/2016 00:44
4
0
The rotation of the planet, clears the methane out of the Arctic region continuously, the methane begins a journey to seek equilibrium in the higher altitudes at lower latitudes as soon as it escapes into the atmosphere.
The methane, rides across the top of the wind pattern called the Ferrel Cell,
This is a video as to what it looks like on its journey towards the equator.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mfCaeiy9VE
Planet Earth appears to be preparing a response to the warming that has taken place so far, and methane will be involved.
bernie, 30 degrees North/90 degrees West
04/10/2016 21:58
9
1
Thank you Siberian Times for your continued coverage of this important research. While most media in the USA seems to focus on domestic politics, war and sports - it is climate change that will have the most profound affect on the future of geopolitics.
Thomas Simon, Mount Vernon, Iowa USA
04/10/2016 18:43
19
0
Well done Semiletov and company for your research. The most important problem facing the human race at present time.
paul just, noosa , australia
04/10/2016 16:13
15
0
12

Add your comment

We welcome a healthy debate, but do not accept offensive or abusive comments. Please also read 'Siberian Times' Privacy Policy

Name

Town/Country

Add your comments

The views expressed in the comments above are those of our readers. 'Siberian Times' reserves the right to pre-moderate some comments.

Control code*

Type the code

* obligatory


News

Business

The Bank of Russia official exchange rates of foreign currencies
EUR99.71USD92.26GBP116.52Other...