Iodine Dating Of Pore Waters And Sediments Associated With Gas Hydrates In The Nankai Trough

University Of Rochester, Rochester NY

Investigators

Abstract

Gas hydrates are important as a potential resource, and also because of their possible influence on climate and the global carbon cycle. Their formation is well understood, but their source(s) is not. Pore waters associated with gas hydrates have elevated halogen content, making dating by 129I (AMS) feasible, as has been shown by a pilot study. The idea of this proposal is to date the pore waters and to use their chemistry and that of the sediments to begin to unravel the origin of methane hydrates. Japanese collaborators will provide samples and data relevant to the study. In this proposal, the PI requests support for the sample preparation (Rochester) and AMS dating to be done at Purdue Univ.