METHANE HYDRATE OFF WEST SVALBARD ISLAND
(North of Norway)
Jan 2014 Gas flares have been observed regularly off the coast, probably venting ancioent methane hydrate.
Westbrook et al (2009) believe this has caused the top of the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) to move deeper. It used to start around 360 metres beneath the seabed, and now it starts around 400 metres. Hydrate that was once in its upper reaches is now outside the GHSZ and hence has broken down, releasing methane. Report from Svalbard science forum
If this happened across the Arctic, large amounts of methane could be released. Westbrook et al estimate that tens of teragrammes could escape every year- equivalent to 5-10% of the total amount released globally by natural sources.
Almost none of the Arctic has been surveyed in a way that might detect a gas release like this.
A 2001 paper by the Westbrook team Timing of methane release from hydrate dissociation on the west Svalbard margin, reports that the Arctic sea floor has been subjected to episodic warming/ cooling cycles that could prime hydrates from depth for rapid release.
This region of the Arctic is projected to warm the very fastest
2014 (Methane hydfrate) Gas emissions at the continental margin west of Svalbard H. Sahling BGS