'Ice That Burns' May Yield Clean, Sustainable Bridge To Global Energy Future
In the future, natural gas derived from chunks of ice that workers collect from beneath the ocean floor and beneath the arctic permafrost may fuel cars, heat homes, and power factories. Government researchers are reporting that these so-called "gas hydrates," a frozen form of natural gas that bursts into flames at the touch of a match, show increasing promise as an abundant, untapped source of clean, sustainable energy. Full Story »
Posted by Kevin Barry
While it is true that of all the alkanes (methane, ethane, butane, propane etc.), methane produces the greatest amount of energy per unit of Carbon dioxide produced, it still represents probably the greatest threat to human society that exists today. Methane clathrates exist right up to their pressure/temperature limit in many oceans of the world. A tiny rise in temperature or fall in pressure is all that is needed to start them escaping spontaneously. If, as expected, they exist in the up-to-now stable Arctic ocean, as soon as it is mostly ice free, they should start to pour out. All that will remain is to kiss goodby that which makes contact with your easy chair.