Comments on: Researchers Successfully Extract Natural Gas from Methane Crystals Deep in the Arctic http://inhabitat.com/researchers-successfully-extract-natural-gas-from-methane-crystals-deep-in-the-arctic/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Sat, 18 May 2013 14:21:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: GreatEmerald http://inhabitat.com/researchers-successfully-extract-natural-gas-from-methane-crystals-deep-in-the-arctic/comment-page-1/#comment-382805 GreatEmerald Wed, 09 May 2012 14:23:23 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=383348#comment-382805 Huh. Well, if they extracted both methane and methane hydride from the glaciers, then it would lower the amount of methane the glaciers emit and therefore slow down global warming. Although since it's replaced by CO2, that would still be emitted after some time. And, of course, to use CH4 as a fuel, you need to burn it, producing more CO2. So it all comes down to the balance: is converting all that CH4 to CO2 better than emitting CH4 itself? As for disrupting the ecosystems... Well, it's once again a balance. If it helps to slow down global warming, then the glaciers will stay for a longer time, which is better for the environment there. But if it doesn't, then it will just make the destruction of the glaciers faster. Huh. Well, if they extracted both methane and methane hydride from the glaciers, then it would lower the amount of methane the glaciers emit and therefore slow down global warming. Although since it’s replaced by CO2, that would still be emitted after some time. And, of course, to use CH4 as a fuel, you need to burn it, producing more CO2. So it all comes down to the balance: is converting all that CH4 to CO2 better than emitting CH4 itself?

As for disrupting the ecosystems… Well, it’s once again a balance. If it helps to slow down global warming, then the glaciers will stay for a longer time, which is better for the environment there. But if it doesn’t, then it will just make the destruction of the glaciers faster.

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