3 ms·
Yes, that is true. The lifetime of methane in the atmosphere is 8 years compared to 100 years for carbon. The possible problem with extracting it is destabilizi
by smackay 14y ago
Yes, that is true. The lifetime of methane in the atmosphere is 8 years compared to 100 years for carbon. The possible problem with extracting it is destabilizing the hydrates so you get a very large eruption which would release colossal quantities of the gas in a very short period of time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_methane http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_methane has lots of useful information and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrate_gun_hypothesis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clathrate_gun_hypothesis has some interesting info on methane hydrate eruptions.
Edit: got my eruptions and irruptions in a twist.
- Retric 14y agoExtraction can lead to leaks and what would amount to localized coal fires. However, to get a meaningful eruption, on the global scale, you need to change sea temperatures over a large area. Which requires insane amounts of energy making it vary hard to do accidentally as part of said extraction.