We then upended the tube so that remaining free gas exited to the water column, and only seawater and artificial gas hydrate remained inside. We repeated the hydrate experiment several times. The first surprise was that hydrate formed immediately-laboratory simulations only grew hydrate slowly. Next we brought samples of our experimental hydrate to the surface for hydrocarbon and isotope analysis. The hydrate contained unexpectedly high percentages of methane.
Science is fun because experiments lead to new questions.
The bottom dwelling Chaunax fish looks as inhospitable as his dark and cold home on the gulf floor seems to be. Johnson Sea Link 's robot arm holds a plastic tube toapture methane bubbles streaming out of the seafloor. Methane hydrate formed inside the tube immediately.