About this Research Topic
Gas hydrates are ice-like solid materials, natural or synthesized, capable of trapping large amounts of low-molecular gases. In nature, they contain primarily methane and correspond to one of the largest CH4 reservoirs on Earth. Natural gas hydrate systems are extremely sensitive to ongoing environmental changes such as those related to the warming of our climate. Yet, they play a pivotal role in the future of our planet both as a container and potentially large emitter of greenhouse gases. Transport of fluids in the subsurface is strictly connected to rapid climate change which affects seafloor fluxes and carbon budgets. Moreover, to meet the world's increasing energy demand while mitigating anthropogenic CO2 emissions, hydrate-based technologies are being under consideration for the separation, capture, transport, and storage of carbon dioxide and hydrogen; two molecules that likely will shape the future of the economy of our modern societies. Therefore, observing and understanding the dynamical behavior of natural hydrate systems, and gaining insights into the mechanisms and processes that allow the development of hydrate-based technologies are paramount to mitigating climate change and achieving the target of carbon neutrality.
The goal of this Research Topic is to cover interdisciplinary, novel, and promising research studies on the large scope of gas hydrates and associated fluid dynamics, related to the overarching themes of both natural systems (their dynamics and their interplay with environmental and climate changes), and new hydrate-based technologies for the energy transition and the mitigation of anthropogenic carbon emissions. The scope includes laboratory and in-situ experiments, data science, new modeling developments, simulations, and scenario analyses to make high-fidelity predictions of the dynamical behavior of the investigated system as well as to quantify and isolate the impacts associated with natural and geologically-induced versus human-induced stressors. Review articles synthesizing knowledge build-up over decades, potential applications, and key challenges are also welcome.
This Research Topic aims to cover the following areas:
• Studying multi-phase systems and multi-physics dynamics in the seabed and the permafrost
• The role of anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) in the gas hydrate systems
• The role of gas hydrate and free gas in future climate
• Tipping points in marine and permafrost environments related to the internal system dynamics
• Reservoir models related to gas hydrate systems, biogenic and thermogenic methane generation
• Laboratory experiments on gas hydrate systems, including the potential role of microorganisms
• Hydrate-based technologies for Hydrogen and Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS)
• Modelling and simulation of hydrate-based industrial processes in the context of mitigating anthropogenic carbon emissions
The goal of this Research Topic is to cover interdisciplinary, novel, and promising research studies on the large scope of gas hydrates and associated fluid dynamics, related to the overarching themes of both natural systems (their dynamics and their interplay with environmental and climate changes), and new hydrate-based technologies for the energy transition and the mitigation of anthropogenic carbon emissions. The scope includes laboratory and in-situ experiments, data science, new modeling developments, simulations, and scenario analyses to make high-fidelity predictions of the dynamical behavior of the investigated system as well as to quantify and isolate the impacts associated with natural and geologically-induced versus human-induced stressors. Review articles synthesizing knowledge build-up over decades, potential applications, and key challenges are also welcome.
This Research Topic aims to cover the following areas:
• Studying multi-phase systems and multi-physics dynamics in the seabed and the permafrost
• The role of anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) in the gas hydrate systems
• The role of gas hydrate and free gas in future climate
• Tipping points in marine and permafrost environments related to the internal system dynamics
• Reservoir models related to gas hydrate systems, biogenic and thermogenic methane generation
• Laboratory experiments on gas hydrate systems, including the potential role of microorganisms
• Hydrate-based technologies for Hydrogen and Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS)
• Modelling and simulation of hydrate-based industrial processes in the context of mitigating anthropogenic carbon emissions
Keywords: gas hydrates, marine environments, permafrost, climate, energy transition
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
