Burp the Ocean
By: Luke Nugent
Article by: Don Walsh
Written: November 2008
| Methane Crystals |
Summary
Opinion
I have the feeling that harvesting this gas could cause more problems than it resolves. Scientists have not tried "burping" it out yet, so they don't know how harmful it could be to the ocean and surrounding wildlife. These methane hydrates could be the home or food to a keystone species in an ecosystem, and this could effect all the surrounding areas. Similar to "Fracking" for natural gas, the companies who extract it may be so motivated to make profits, they would not consider the people or the nearby environment. Also, if people knew they had a huge amount of usable natural resources left, then they wouldn't feel any pressure to not use as much fossil fuels and wouldn't be motivated to use alternative energy. It would also probably cause problems between countries over who owns it. I do not think that scientists should follow through with this discovery.
Questions
1) Do you think that this methane could be beneficial? How about in the future?
2) Should people spend more energy on discovering fossil fuels or alternative energy? Why?
3) Who would the methane belong to? Why would it cause conflict?
4) What is the most significant downside to this methane? Why?
5) What changes or ideas would make this more plausible?
6) What could organizations like the EPA do to protect the environment in situations like these?
6) What could organizations like the EPA do to protect the environment in situations like these?
I think that this would be a very good alternative to use for our alternative energy because we are quickly running out of our resources. I think it is a good idea because it helps add to the amount of fossil fuels we have. The only worry I would have would be the fact that it is toxic. It could ruin the ocean and animals that live in it, leaving them homeless and left to die. Although, we do get oil from the ocean, and that is toxic and dangerous, so why can't we use the methane? I think that the same dangers apply because both items could spill and both cause issues to the surrounding areas that it occurs in. To answer question number 5, I think that there is a safer way to retrieve the gas without causing landslides and spilling the material. We already consider these problems when we refine oil from the ocean, so I believe that the "burping" of the ocean isn't much different.
ReplyDeleteReflection: I think this is a good discovery made by scientists because it can add to our variety of energy. Hopefully the methane won't do any harm to our environment and leak out because it would be really bad if it did. This also could be bad though because like the article said it could cause tsunamis and earthquakes which are recent nowadays.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: The most significant to methane is how toxic it can be. I say this because it can be really bad for humans and the environment. If this leaks out if we ever do use it as a energy source then it would ruin the land and it could potentially kill someone.
I think this is a really bad decision because I don't think there is ever a one hundred percent chance of getting a substance safely. All it takes is a design flaw, and we could have a leak. This stuff seems even nastier than oil spills, so why take the chance.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: I think drilling in the bottom of the ocean will definitely cause conflict because we are not the only country wanting an alternative to oil. I think just trying to figure out who gets that oil will cause imperialism. It'll be another gulf war.
To me this seams like a bad idea. If I lived on the coast, I wouldnt want to take the risks. We already have enough problems and damages because of oil spills. Why risk increasing all of these things by drilling for the gas? It sounds like it could be worse than oil spills and oilspills are bad enough as it is. My family usually goes to the shore every summer and its a nice, relaxing place to be. If there was anyproblems or leaks while taking this gas, this could have very powerfull impacts on the average familys summer vacation. If people knew that that gas was in the water, no body would go to the shore and the whole little economy that runs off of visiters every year would be destroyed. Plus we have no idea how this would effect the wildlife in the area. I think there are too many risks and this idea should not be carried out.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 3: The methane belongs to the earth and thats how it should be. Us humans just come in and say that we "own" land, air space, and bodies of water. Even though this is how our world and economy goes round, we all wont be around forever to "own" things. Anyway to figure out whos "owns" this gas would be to determine where it lies in relation to country boarders. I know that some countries have debates on who "owns" what bodies of water, and this may cause conflict or even a small war but overall I say the country that it is closest to should have it.