Origin of pingo-like features on the Beaufort Sea shelf and their possible relationship to decomposing methane gas hydrates

The Arctic shelf is currently undergoing dramatic thermal changes caused by the continued warming associated with Holocene sea level rise. During this transgression, comparatively warm waters have flooded over cold permafrost areas of the Arctic Shelf. A thermal pulse of more than 10°C is still prop...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2007-01, Vol.34 (1), p.n/a
Main Authors: Paull, Charles K., Ussler III, William, Dallimore, Scott R., Blasco, Steve M., Lorenson, Thomas D., Melling, Humfrey, Medioli, Barbara E., Nixon, F. Mark, McLaughlin, Fiona A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arctic
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
gas venting
methane gas hydrate
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Summary:The Arctic shelf is currently undergoing dramatic thermal changes caused by the continued warming associated with Holocene sea level rise. During this transgression, comparatively warm waters have flooded over cold permafrost areas of the Arctic Shelf. A thermal pulse of more than 10°C is still propagating down into the submerged sediment and may be decomposing gas hydrate as well as permafrost. A search for gas venting on the Arctic seafloor focused on pingo‐like‐features (PLFs) on the Beaufort Sea Shelf because they may be a direct consequence of gas hydrate decomposition at depth. Vibracores collected from eight PLFs had systematically elevated methane concentrations. ROV observations revealed streams of methane‐rich gas bubbles coming from the crests of PLFs. We offer a scenario of how PLFs may be growing offshore as a result of gas pressure associated with gas hydrate decomposition.
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1029/2006GL027977