What physical conditions are necessary for the formation and stability of methane hydrates? What will be an ideal response?


The largest known reservoir of hydrocarbons on Earth is methane-laced ice crystals, or
methane hydrate, in the sediments of some continental slopes. Methane is formed from the
decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms living in the seafloor sediments. Due to
high pressures and cold temperatures, the methane is trapped within a crystal lattice of interlocking water molecules. Methane hydrates are often found in marine environments in
waters at least 250 meters in depth where they are stable and long-lived. They are not found
in shallower waters along the continental shelf since the lower pressure is not sufficient to
keep them stable, and they are rare in the deep ocean due to the lack of organic material that
reaches the deep ocean floor. When brought to the warm, low-pressure conditions at the
ocean surface, the sediment fizzes as the methane escapes

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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The WHO 2002 conclusion on the importance of risk assessment in modern medicine was most like the proverb,

A) "Actions speak louder than words." B) "There is safety in numbers." C) "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." D) "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Assume that a parcel with an initial temperature of 20°C and a dew point of 7°C starts at sea level and travels up the side of a mountain. At what elevation will condensation begin inside the parcel?

A) 1400 meters B) 1300 meters C) 2700 meters D) 2600 meters

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

If one were in Mecca during the hajj, one is least likely to encounter a pilgrim from

A) China. B) Pakistan. C) Indonesia. D) Egypt. E) Turkey.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The Mediterranean shrubland biome is the most extensive terrestrial biome

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences