Vol. 22, issue 06, article # 15

Malakhova V. V. Numerical modeling of a possible methane flux in the atmosphere as a result of submarine fluid venting. // Optika Atmosfery i Okeana. 2009. V. 22. No. 06. P. 605-610 [in Russian].
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Abstract:

One of the mechanisms to release methane from the sediment to the ocean is through submarine mud volcanoes, hydrocarbon seeps, and vents. The three-dimensional mathematical model of the dissolved gas transport by the ocean currents is used for the quantitative estimation of the scale of a possible methane flux into the atmosphere from the submarine fluid venting. The climatic large-scale current field is obtained from the three-dimensional global model of the ocean dynamics. The problem was solved numerically on a spatial grid with a resolution of 3 degrees in latitude and in longitude with 24 levels by the vertical. A three-dimensional equation of transport of the dissolved methane from sources is simultaneously solved. Methane sources in model are set, taking into account the speed of the filtration methane flux. The calculated methane flux into the atmosphere exceeds 9-20 Tg/year, depending on the experiment scenario.

Keywords:

methane; methane gas hydrates; numerical modeling; ocean model