International research project on gas hydrates : Hydrates in Oceans - Programme of Exploration (HOPE)

Global warming caused by increased emissions of greenhouse gases (especially carbon dioxide) to the atmosphere can be accelerated by release of additional amounts of methane from gas hydrates. These specific chemical compounds (clathrates) consisting of water and hydrocarbons exist as solids under a narrow range of conditions. The methane hydrates occur naturally mainly in the ocean bottom worldwide, as well as on lands in the permafrost zone. The last decade of the 20th century expanded our knowledge on areas of occurrence, potential resources, environmental conditions of gas hydrate formation and their stability. Increasing average temperature of the Earth changes the conditions of gas hydrate stability and may result in release of methane into seawater and then atmosphere. This may intensify the greenhouse effect. Thus, international research centres should urgently develop an integrated effort towards studying the origin and areas of occurrence of the gas hydrates, as well as feasibility of their commercial exploitation. Such integration could be coordinated by the International Sea Bed Authority within the proposed Project HOPE (Hydrates in Oceans - Program of Explorations).