METHANE EXPLOSION

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TotalPoints:200.0

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Methane Explosion
Alex Ford
Salt Lake Community College Geology 1010 Mosher
12/11/16
http://alexanderfordslcc.weebly.com/geology-1010.html
Alexander Ford, Sean Bell, Francisco Gomez

Sources of Methane

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Methane can come from many different areas from the ocean,
atmosphere, and organic origins. One major source of methane
becoming present is the increase of temperature globally. This causes
permafrost to melt, ocean current dynamics to change, and
underground formations to become exposed causing methane to be
expelled from underground cavities such as Karst formations.(7.)
There is evidence to suggest that since there is a rise in
temperature globally ecosystems like the oceans are affected.
Warming water causes the frozen edge of methane hydrate to move
into deeper water. (2.) Methane is rising to the surface from melting
methane hydrate. Another source that arises from melting is the
decreasing of permafrost. (8.) Scribbler notes that there have been
2400 parts per billion found over the arctic of methane concentrations.
Theory of Mass Extinction
There have been periods of mass extinction on this planet which
may have been caused by overabundance of methane and other
hazardous materials causing the atmosphere to be nearly unlivable.
These evidences have been found from the periods of the Ordovician,
Devonian, Triassic, straight to modern times. (5.)
One of the leading theories of these extinction occurrences is the
theory that the atmosphere became too hostile an environment due to
warming, high levels of volatiles, and changing topography on the
Earths surface. Further speculation could be added that these reasons
for a hostile environment in causation of extinction is that the ice ages
in such times were melting exposing hidden biogas from craters left
under the permafrost.
Pingos, Glacial melt, and Craters
As stated before melting permafrost is a huge part of the
introduction of massive amounts of methane and other hazardous
gases into the atmosphere. When ice on the surface of the poles melts
they reveal pockets of ancient ground that hasnt seen the light of day
for many centuries. Left in these pockets are small concentrations of
organic material from ages past. In the decomposition of these
materials gases are produced from bacteria and other agents that
break down the left over tissue or fibers. Leaving these submerged
areas beneath the ice to be exposed again through glacial melt.
As heating on the Earths surface is prevalent melting of ice in
the artic cap zones increases exposing the gases underneath through
sinkholes from collapsing pingos. When large amounts of water from
rainfall, runoff, or other deposits seep into the ground they become
acidic and eat away at the karst terrain underneath. (8) The Yamal

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craters in northern Siberia are a fine example of what can happen after
these subterranean chambers finally see light. (6.)

Effect on Earths Spheres

Methane explosion is a real issue in every corner of Earth that we
live on. We see it effect our government, crops, topography, and
economy. These effects from methane predominance in our
atmosphere will cause the politisphere to evaluate many options since
it will effect laws on agriculture consumption, emission constraints, and
money marketing in greener ways. The Biosphere will show signs of
decay as crops will die out, oxygen will deplete, and oceanic flora like
coral will die out effecting ecosystems dangerously.
As these floral communities die out the ground will have no
nutrients to contain its soil as sands will drift like a new dust bowl. This
will mess with the property of tectonics since erosion will etch the land
away and cause unstable areas on the surface above fault lines. The
Geosphere would not be a friendly place anymore. Every industry will
fail in the end result with no way to feed the workers who supply the
services killing the Econosphere.
Preventative efforts
Though out all of the tribulations listed there is still a hope for
conservation of our planet. Efforts can be made to adjust how we
handle our waste and manure usage. We can use landfill for gas, utilize
biogas from wood to heat and from water to light our homes. (4) We
can take care of the machinery we choose to use balancing which fuels
and maintenance is necessary for proper emissions. Overall we can go
green as we become more aware of where we live by how we live.
Remaining diligent to conserve the land that we live on as it fosters us
so shall we back. Everyone can do their part for those who have the
perception to analyze and critically think of ways we can solve
problems for future generations and what can be done in the present
to assist in these ubiquitous problems we as a people face. When all is
considered and weighed the task may seem daunting but an old
geologist once told me wellit may be hard, but it is indeed worth it.

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Sources:
1
http://energy.gov/fe/science-innovation/oil-gas-research/methanehydrate
2
Hickey, H. (2014). Warmer Pacific Ocean could release millions of tons
of seafloor
methane.http://www.washington.edu/news/2014/12/09/warmerpacificocean-could-release-millions-of-tons-of-seafloor-methane/
3
Wood, C. (2016). Satellites detail continued rise of atmospheric
methane and CO2.
http://newatlas.com/esa-satellite-data-risingmethane-carbon- dioxide/43348/
4
Green Group. (2013). Sources of biogas. http://www.greengroup.rs/index.php?r=1910
5
Endangered Species International, Inc. (2011). The Five Worst Mass
Extinctions.
http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/overview.html
6
Lewis, T. (2014). Cause of Mysterious Siberian Holes Possibly Found.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cause-of-mysterioussiberianholes-possibly-found/
7
Cochran, M. (2013). What Causes Sinkholes to Form?
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/sinkholes-provento-be-dangero/10802869
8
Scribbler, R. (2015). Concern Over Catastrophic Methane Release
Overburden, Plumes, Eruptions, and Large Ocean Craters.
https://robertscribbler.com/2015/03/09/cause-for-appropriateconcernover-arctic-methane-overburden-plumes-eruptions-andlarge-oceancraters/

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9
KDZIOR,S.(2002).THEINFLUENCEOFTECTONICFACTORONMETHANEBEARING
CAPACITYINCHOSENAREASOFTHEUPPERSILESIANCOALBASIN.

https://www.pgi.gov.pl/en/docman-tree/publikacje-2/specialpapers/7/2473-7-polish-geological-special-papers-7-17-kedziorinfluence- of-tectonic-factor-on-methane-bearing-capacity-in-chosenareas-of-theupper-silesian-coal-basin/file.html