Prediction of impacts of discharged dissociated water in methane hydrate on environment

Abstract

In the development of a model to predict the impacts caused by the discharge of dissociated water, we collected and analyzed the parameters needed for the model in the area for the calculation. The parameters are based on the existing study and the surveyed results. The prototype of this model was established to assess the diffusion process of the water which released from the seabed or water column. As for the hazards of salinity and temperature changing due to methane hydrate dissociation in water, we review the existing study about the impacts on behaviors of marine organisms. In this study, the dissociated water discharged in surface layer, middle layer and bottom deep layer respectively. We calculated the extension range where the dissociated water influences the marine environment. The discharged dissociated water assumed the fresh water that was same temperature as the seawater at the bottom of the sea. The diffusing area of the dissociated water went up in the direction of the surface of the sea, because the densities of dissociated water are lower than seawater in the surrounding. It extends, and it has diffused horizontally by the flow of the each level. There is little influence on the marine organism in bottom of the sea, if the densities of the discharged dissociated water are lower than peripheral seawater.