S4: Geology of marine gas hydrates

(G. Bohrmann et al., Bremen)

The short course will focus on current research on gas hydrates, which are important components in the Earth. Gas hydrates are generally formed at moderate pressure and low temperature, and a wide range of guest molecules can be incorporated into the water cages. Recent interest in gas hydrates emerges from the awareness that hydrate deposits may play significant roles in global and regional processes with societal and economic significance. A global hydrate assessment, although still uncertain, suggests that methane hydrates might represent an important future energy source. The purpose of this short course is to summarize some of the fundamentals of our current understanding of gas hydrate in marine sediments, its interactions with the environment, and recent findings from ongoing research programs that illustrate key aspects of gas hydrate dynamics.