Is Methane Hydrates A Death Energy ?

I came across this interesting article today about methane hydrates under the sea bed .

I am of the opinion that tampering with this element could unlock the seeds of our own demise . Exploitiong this resource would I believe irreversably destroy nature .

 

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in regards to global warming from accidental release of methane gas

CO2 has an atmospheric concentration of 369.4 PPM and contributes 67% to global warming

Methane has a 1.75 PPM concentration but contributes 18%

however, methane has a life span in the atmosphere of only 12-17 years compared to CO2's 50-200 years. So its not all bad, but it is more harmful if they did acidentally release a lot of it.

 

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I heard that this might be what happens in the Barbuda triangle. because if the methane hydrate were to fracture, it would release a huge mass of bubbles. any ship unlucky enough to be hit by these bubbles would no long be buoyant enough to stay up, and thus sink in a matter of seconds.

 

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Greenpeace has reputation for bad science, but they could be correct about methane hydrate. More likely a modest amount of methane would escape into Earth's atmosphere, and do a modest amount of mischief. "Irreversibly destroy" seems like exageration even if the engineers make a major blunder. I heard a much shorter half life for methane in Earth's atmosphere (8 days?) I suspect both the 1.75 ppm and the 18% are high.
The bubbles of methane sinking a ship are good science, but zero ships may have sunk for that reason to date. Neil

 

Save the trees... if we use...erm... shaving cream it will irreversably destroy the universe... pandas have feelings to!

 

with correction

the evidence for methane hydrates existing is remarkably slender...google is silent! it is well known that methane can result from bacteria chewing on the appropriate substrate. it does escape when stagnant water is roiled, and also from humans . if it is solid methane at the bottom of deep seas, it should be possible to harvest. but more important is getting off the carbon combustion cycle and to concentrate on the renewables!!

thanks to mr anon...apologies to google
so, the existance of methane hydrate has been reported! it has reportedly been synthesized and identified as a clathrate, a caged structure. i was under the impression that hydrates have distinct chemical structures .

 

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I suppose the average bureaucrat would reject "a big methane bubble sank my ship" so they would find a less truthful reason. Perhaps oil platforms are more valerable than ordinary ships, but they did bravely blame the big methane bubble at considerable risk of ridicule, so I appologize for believing my source that "zero ships" Neil