Influence of tectonics on global scale distribution of geological methane emissions.

ABSTRACT: Earth's hydrocarbon degassing through gas-oil seeps, mud volcanoes and diffuse microseepage is a major natural source of methane (CH₄) to the atmosphere. While carbon dioxide degassing is typically associated with extensional tectonics, volcanoes, and geothermal areas, CH₄ seepage mostly occurs in petroleum-bearing sedimentary basins, but the role of tectonics in degassing is known only for some case studies at local scale. Here, we perform a global scale geospatial analysis to assess how the presence of hydrocarbon fields, basin geodynamics and the type of faults control CH₄ seepage. Combining georeferenced data of global inventories of onshore seeps, faults, sedimentary basins, petroleum fields and heat flow, we find that hydrocarbon seeps prevail in petr

SUBMITTER: Ciotoli G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7210894 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature