Methane chimneyとは 意味・読み方・使い方

A methane chimney or gas chimney is a rising column of natural gas, mainly methane within a water or sediment column. Large deposits of frozen methane, when thawing, release gas into the environment. In cases of sub-sea permafrost, the methane gas may be dissolved in the seawater before reaching the surface. However, in a number of sites around the world, these methane chimneys release the gas directly into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. In some locations along Russia’s northern coast, methane rising from the sea floor to the surface has caused the sea to foam. In hydrocarbon exploration, gas chimneys revealed on seismic reflection data are indicators of active gas migration and a working petroleum system.