Methane Hydrates

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Methane Hydrates

• Ed Merkle

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Methane Hydrates

• Intro
• Crystalline Structure
• Microbe-Hydrate Interactions
• Hydrate Associated Microbes
• What does this mean for you?

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Crystalline Structure

• Conditions for formation
• Where found
• Related topics

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Microbe-Hydrate Interactions

• Porous nature
• Methane metabolism
• Methanosaeta

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Microbe-Hydrate Interactions

• How does the metabolism work
• 3 proposed ideas
• Likely pathway

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Microbe-Hydrate Interactions

• Obligate or dominantly methanotrophic Archaea
• 2. Normal methanogens using other carbon source
• 3. Methanogens working in reverse

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Hydrate Associated Microbes

• Process
• Core samples
• Isolate DNA
• PCR, cloning, RFLP, gel

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Look at your handout
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What does this mean for you?

• Energy source
• Atmospheric greenhouse gas source
• Catastrophic sediment failure agent
• Methanogen locations

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Conclusion

• Crystalline Structure
• Microbe-hydrate Interactions
• Hydrate Associated Microbes
• What does this mean for you

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Questions - Comments

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