Continental margins in world oceans contain large amounts of marine gas hydrates. Changes in the temperature and pressure of sediment may destabilize the methane hydrate, leading to its release and seepage into the se...Continental margins in world oceans contain large amounts of marine gas hydrates. Changes in the temperature and pressure of sediment may destabilize the methane hydrate, leading to its release and seepage into the sea. This process would increase the dissolved methane in the ambient seawater. In this study, a methane sensor was used to detect methane anomalies in the water column in southwestern Dongsha and Shenhu, northern slope of the South China Sea. Methane plumes were detected at stations SCS001 and T001 in the southwestern Dongsha area, and station SCS002 in the Shenhu area, respectively. The maximum methane concentrations were 8.8 nmol/L in southwestern Dongsha and 10.1 nmol/L in Shenhu, which are about 4–5 times higher than the background methane concentration. This indicates that there are active methane seepages present in both the southwestern Dongsha and Shenhu areas, which are likely related to a methane hydrate reservoir beneath the seafloor. A methane sensor with a low detection limit is a practical instrument with which to detect methane plumes in oceanic environments and to monitor methane leakage from the seafloor.展开更多
现代海底块状硫化物矿床(SMS)富含Au等战略性矿产,是海底成矿作用研究的热点(Fuchs et al.,2019)。传统观点认为,富Au型SMS矿床可赋存于现代海底各种构造环境中,但高品位的Au通常与岛弧、不成熟的弧后环境有关,大洋中脊形成的块状硫化...现代海底块状硫化物矿床(SMS)富含Au等战略性矿产,是海底成矿作用研究的热点(Fuchs et al.,2019)。传统观点认为,富Au型SMS矿床可赋存于现代海底各种构造环境中,但高品位的Au通常与岛弧、不成熟的弧后环境有关,大洋中脊形成的块状硫化物往往是贫Au的。展开更多
基金Supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2017YFC0306701)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41106052)the Fundamental Research Funds for National Nonprofit Institute Grant(No.JG1511)
文摘Continental margins in world oceans contain large amounts of marine gas hydrates. Changes in the temperature and pressure of sediment may destabilize the methane hydrate, leading to its release and seepage into the sea. This process would increase the dissolved methane in the ambient seawater. In this study, a methane sensor was used to detect methane anomalies in the water column in southwestern Dongsha and Shenhu, northern slope of the South China Sea. Methane plumes were detected at stations SCS001 and T001 in the southwestern Dongsha area, and station SCS002 in the Shenhu area, respectively. The maximum methane concentrations were 8.8 nmol/L in southwestern Dongsha and 10.1 nmol/L in Shenhu, which are about 4–5 times higher than the background methane concentration. This indicates that there are active methane seepages present in both the southwestern Dongsha and Shenhu areas, which are likely related to a methane hydrate reservoir beneath the seafloor. A methane sensor with a low detection limit is a practical instrument with which to detect methane plumes in oceanic environments and to monitor methane leakage from the seafloor.
