PubTalk 4/2003 — Gaia's Breath

Methane and the Future of Natural Gas

By Keith A. Kvenvolden, Geochemist 

• The Earth--or "Gaia," the Earth Goddess of Ancient Greece-- exhales more than 1 million tons of methane each day
• Mud volcanoes around the world emit about 5 million tons of methane each year as part of Gaia's breath
• Energy sources used by society have evolved from wood to coal to oil and natural gas.soon possibly to hydrogen extracted from natural gas?
• Gas hydrate--"ice that burns"--found under the sea and in permafrost regions, is a potential future source of energy