Hi All, This is a 1hr. lecture that is highly informative as to the state of knowledge on the issue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSTm6cZjO14&feature=related In dealing with vents, one possible path came to mind as I watched the lecture. That is, accelerating methane aerobic oxidation through increasing the O2 saturation of the water column well above the vent. Going well above the vent should protect the anaerobic oxidation being performed by the sea floor biotic colony (if present). Here is a paper on the importance of the vent colony oxidation of methane; http://www.mumm-research.de/download_pdf/treude_et_al_aom_hr.pdf This technique would require a wave/solar powered buoy feeding a microbubble stream(s) down the anchoring line to the appropriate depth. This type of buoy could also function as a monitoring station reporting multiple sounding via sat. link. I believe that a simple design could be prototyped and tested rather quickly. Obviously, if successful, the shear numbers of needed oxidation buoys will call for simple/low cost design(s). Different environments will need to be taken into consideration. ESAS units may need an ice snorkel to transmit data, as well as, some form of compact thermal energy harvesting gear. Capillary collection of the methane may also be possible. That fuel flow could be used in a fuel cell. On the issue of sea floor level gas capture, these same buoys could be used to create, through ocean water electrolysis, carbonate shell (hollow reef) like caps above the vent. Dr, Rau was patient enough to explain to me the drawbacks of ocean water electrolysis and I am fully prepared to be shot down on this idea. But, the growth time would be relative short and the Cl byproduct will need further considerations. What is to be done with the captured methane? One idea is to use in in a way which cools the surrounding water. A methane fuel cell powering a string(s) of Peltier coolers should be a good use for the methane. Dr. Kastner also points out the need to locate/evaluate and monitor hydrate formations, potential landslides in particular. A multipurpose buoy network may be useful in those areas. I hope the lecture helps those that are just beginning to grasp the methane issue, like it helped me. Thanks, -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "geoengineering" group. To post to this group, send email to geoengineering@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to geoengineering+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/geoengineering?hl=en.
