摘要：Methane hydrates, ice-like compounds in which methane is held in crystalline cages
formed by water molecules, are widespread in areas of permafrost such as the
Arctic and in sediments on the continental margins. They are a potentially vast
fossil fuel energy source but, at the same time, could be destabilized by changing
pressure–temperature conditions due to climate change, potentially leading to strong
positive carbon–climate feedbacks. To enhance our understanding of both the
vulnerability of and the opportunity provided by methane hydrates, it is necessary (i) to
conduct basic research that improves the highly uncertain estimates of hydrate
occurrences and their response to changing environmental conditions, and (ii) to
integrate the agendas of energy security and climate change which can provide an
opportunity for methane hydrates—in particular if combined with carbon capture and
storage—to be used as a 'bridge fuel' between carbon-intensive fossil energies
and zero-emission energies. Taken one step further, exploitation of dissociating
methane hydrates could even mitigate against escape of methane to the atmosphere.
Despite these opportunities, so far, methane hydrates have been largely absent
from energy and climate discussions, including global hydrocarbon assessments
and the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change.
