Methane hydrate

　Hello, everyone. It became the last report contribution still more.
　I have summarized the information which exists in the middle of research until now. A still more familiar thing is taken up this time. In fact, there are some which have influence on our life early most. It is methane hydrate.
　I introduce easily the methane hydrate which is capturing the spotlight now.

　First, what is methane hydrate? Speaking directly, it being a kind of natural gas. Natural gas, such as methane, combined with water and is made. Although it tends to seem whether to be a liquid, it is a solid crystal in practice. Appearance resembles ice. Since it has the character to burn if fire is brought close, it may be called "the ice which burns." Only water remains, after burning. It is a very wonderful substance. 

　Compared with oil or coal, the amount of discharge of carbon dioxide of this substance is a half about. Methane is included in large quantities, and moreover, since only water remains, after use can be said to be a very environment-friendly substance. If utilizable, it will greatly be useful also for the global environmental destruction prevention currently tackled on a worldwide scale. This can be used for various energy sources, such as fuel of a car, town gas, and power generation. This is very reliable!

　Is this what has occurred with distant backgrounds, such as Europe and Africa? It is different. That is an important point of this methane hydrate is Japan in which what and we live. As said for beginning, having influence on a life is not restricted to use. It is the first point that natural gas can be exploited at its own country. 

　Two conditions are required in order for methane hydrate to occur. It is "high pressure" and "low temperature." First of all, it is the very limited place that existence of methane hydrate is checked. One is a place of 100 meters of the underground number of the North Pole or the South Poles. Another is a place deeper than the depth of water of 500 meters. It is the latter that it is related to Japan, of course. 

　Then, what methane hydrate is really sleeping in the world?

 

　An abundant quantity of methane hydrate exists all over the world. On what and land, the quantity of several 1 quadrillion cubic meters is checked in several 10 trillion cubic meters and ocean space. Doesn't imagination stick at all? This is about 10 times the quantity of the deposits of the natural gas in the world. They say that it is equal to the amount of primitive of the natural gas used now. Furthermore, the quantity of the methane hydrate around Japan is uncanny. About 4,200 billion cubic meters is told to the Nankai Trough around Japan. Furthermore, it is surmised in the Hokkaido surrounding ocean area that it also amounts to 6 trillion cubic meters. 

　Do you think that you will have in what year if there is a quantity like this? 50 year ? 80 years? It is the quantity which can say and is equal to 100 income tax years. This is the world's largest methane hydrate quantity possessed. Could the natural blessing possibly receive just because it was the island country surrounded by the sea? Probably, the day which becomes the world's largest energy-resources power also has near Japan. 

　Then, this finishes the blog contribution over ten weeks. "The world of deep sea" -- Did you have enjoy this blog? It is happy if you get interested. Thank you. 

reference

• http://mhy.cmpcmp.net/010/ent1.html
• http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/メタンハイドレート
• http://methanehydrate.net/
• http://www.eps.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/res-edu/geosphere/matsumoto.html

Hydrothermal vent

On the ground, a volcano exists. The crack which the water heated with heat of the earth spouts is in deep sea as well as it. The name is Hydrothermal vent. They mainly have volcanic activity in an active place.


　Even if it calls it Hydrothermal vent at a word, especially the thing of deep sea is characteristic.
First, a biological activity is very prosperous. It is because many chemical substances have melted into the liquid which blew off. Furthermore, only one kind is not breeding and various kinds of living things form society intricately.

The society which surrounds this Hydrothermal vent is greatly dependent on bacteria and Archea. Bacteria are increased in large quantities, thanks to the chemical substance blowing off. Then, it increases and bacteria spread in thick mat. Then, the living thing which makes this food flocks. Furthermore, a food chain is formed when a big living thing preys on it.
　Moreover, this bacteria and relation of a tube worm are deep. They make bacteria parasitic on the inside of the body. It is each digestive function which a tube worm and bacteria have, and is living together well.


Thus, Hydrothermal vent is called source of the life of a living thing. Two or more hypotheses that the life was born from here also actually exist.

　Let's investigate in detail about a tube worm. Structure of their body is very interesting. It has the mouth and no alimentary canal. Gills is used in order to take in nutrition. Although they are not fish, either, where on earth is gills? Please see a right photograph. The reddest portion at a tip is gills. Is what was being imagined differed from considerably? A substance is absorbed from here and an organic matter is compounded in a body.




　A hydrothermal venting hole is often called a chimney from the figure projected from the ground. Then, what degree is the temperature of the "hot water" which blows off from the chimney really? Ashore, water boils at 100 ℃.
If it evaporates, water will become vapor and will be gas. That is, water (hot water) 100 ℃ or more should not be made.
　However, if something melts or big pressure is applied into water, the boiling point of water will go up. Is this surprised? Near the seabed with a chimney requires terrestrial big pressure about 200 times  by sea water. Therefore, the water of the temperature which is not considered exists in the ground of 200~400 ℃.
This is just a submarine wonder! A somewhat hotter bath is about 41 ℃. If it becomes, what heat is 400 ℃ hot water really? Isn't imagination attached, either? But such a thing has happened very ordinarily in deep sea.

　The chimney was discovered for the first time off the Galapagos Islands in 1977. Since then, a lot is discovered at a place which is called the boundary portion of a plate, etc. and where diastrophism is active. However, however the chimney might be discovered, the kind of living thing seen on the outskirts was generally the same. Even if it investigates the ocean of what, a kind does not change. How on earth were they scattered all over the world? Or did it carry out by producing a life one after another with the chimney? This mystery has not been solved yet. A chimney will surely be useful for research of primitive global environment.




reference

• http://www.nationalgeographic.co.jp/environment/habitats/deep-sea-vents.html
• http://rikanet2.jst.go.jp/contents/cp0170/main/stmain/contents/menu/menu.html
• http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/熱水噴出孔

http://www.jamstec.go.jp/j/index.html

Thermohaline circulation

　Have you heard the word "thermohaline circulation"? I extracted only to the thing of deep sea and have so far written the report. Then, deep sea and the surface sea don't have relation at all? It can say and that is never right. More than we are imagining rather, these two are a relation inseparable even if it cuts.

　Then, What is thermohaline circulation ? It is "heat" when thermo is put in another way. Moreover, when haline puts in another way, it is "salto". The density of sea water is decided by this heat and salt.

　What on earth happens with the density of sea water? First, it is cooled as the sea water which was flowing through the warm sea goes near the North Pole (or South Pole). And if the sea water becomes high latitude, it will begin to sink. High-density sea water sinks in deep sea further. Circulation becomes the point here. The sea water which sank in deep sea returns to a surface until 1200 years ago! The talk that it is patient.
　But this system has had big influence on us. What is it? Yes, it is climate.

　Recently, does the cold day continue in Japan? It is said that it applied especially to the end of last year or today, and had become cold markedly rather than the ordinary year. A little this is a wonder. Although "Global warming is progressing" is said, not to mention it gets warm in winter, why does it become cold in the world?

　First of all, let's observe the ice of the Arctic Ocean. The ice of the Arctic Ocean melts by introduction and warming. If a right photograph is seen, it turns out that this ice remarkable in 30 years has melted. And the more marine ice has a small area, the more it absorbs solar heat. Moreover, heat is emitted to the atmosphere from a sea surface because sea ice becomes small. Thereby, the atmosphere around the Arctic Ocean gets warm. Then, atmospheric pressure high up in the sky goes up, and the strong cold flows into Japan under the influence of various winds. High up in the sky, such a thing has happened.

　Then, how is this related to thermohaline circulation?

　The theory of "cooling conversely by warming" is leading in Europe. The system of thermohaline circulation has backed this up. Thermohaline circulation has a sea route like a belt as an upside picture is seen and understood. Moreover, sea water does not only simply move. Various heat and energies are conveyed. In other words, work like the conveyor belt of a factory is carried out. The cause of cooling feared what and now is in this. It is said that this conveyor, i.e., thermohaline circulation, may stop. 

This conveyor is moving according to the difference of the density of surface sea water and deep sea water. Since if sea ice, such as the Arctic Ocean, melts, the density of sea water will fall. 

Then, the power of sinking to the seabed gradually is lost. If it compares, it will be in a state it becomes impossible for a car to run with a gasoline piece. The slowdown of thermohaline circulation cannot be stopped but it may stop soon. If it becomes so, cooling will take place to the whole world. 

　Can you believe this theory? It seems that the earth itself is going to reset the inside with will completely. Always don't forget the natural threat. 

reference

• http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/熱塩循環
• http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/COLUMN/20120213/204698/?P=3
• http://blog.umigaeru.com/2009/01/the-day-after-tomorrow.html
• http://tamekiyo.com/documents/W_Engdahl/icemelting.php