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Methane flux from miniseepage in mud volcanoes of SW Taiwan: Comparison with the data from Italy, Romania, and Azerbaijan
Author(s)
Language
English
Obiettivo Specifico
4.5. Studi sul degassamento naturale e sui gas petroliferi
Status
Published
JCR Journal
JCR Journal
Peer review journal
Yes
Title of the book
Issue/vol(year)
/ 65 (2013)
ISSN
1367-9120
Electronic ISSN
1878-5786
Publisher
Elsevier Science Limited
Pages (printed)
3–12
Issued date
March 25, 2013
Abstract
Mud volcanoes (MVs) are considered important methane (CH4) sources for the atmosphere; gas is not only released from macro-seepage, i.e., from craters and visible gas bubbling manifestations, but also from invisible and pervasive exhalation from the ground, named miniseepage. CH4 flux related to miniseepage
was measured only in a few MVs, in Azerbaijan, Italy, Japan, Romania and Taiwan. This study examines in detail the flux data acquired in 5 MVs and 1 ‘‘dry’’ seep in SW Taiwan, and further compares
with other 23 MVs in Italy, Romania and Azerbaijan. Miniseepage from the six manifestations in SW Taiwan MVs and seeps annually contribute at least 110 tons of methane directly to the atmosphere,
and represents about 80% of total degassing during a quiescent period. Combining miniseepage flux and geo-electrical data from the Wu-shan-ding MV revealed a possible link between gas flux and electrical
resistivity of the vadose zone. This suggests that unsaturated subsoil is a preferential zone for shallow gas accumulation and seepage to the atmosphere. Besides, miniseepage flux in Chu-huo everlasting fire decreases by increasing the distance from the main gas channeling zone and molecular fractionation
(methane/ethane ratio) is higher for lower flux seepage, consistently with what observed in other MVs worldwide. Measurements from Azerbaijan, Italy, Romania, and Taiwan converge to indicate that miniseepage is directly proportional to the vent output and it is a significant component of the total methane budget of a MV. A miniseepage vs. macro-seepage flux equation has been statistically assessed and it can be used to estimate theoretically at least the order of magnitude of the flux of miniseepage for MVs of which only the flux from vents was evaluated, or will be evaluated in future. This will allow a more complete and objective quantification of gas emission in MVs, thus also refining the estimate of the global methane emission from geological sources.
was measured only in a few MVs, in Azerbaijan, Italy, Japan, Romania and Taiwan. This study examines in detail the flux data acquired in 5 MVs and 1 ‘‘dry’’ seep in SW Taiwan, and further compares
with other 23 MVs in Italy, Romania and Azerbaijan. Miniseepage from the six manifestations in SW Taiwan MVs and seeps annually contribute at least 110 tons of methane directly to the atmosphere,
and represents about 80% of total degassing during a quiescent period. Combining miniseepage flux and geo-electrical data from the Wu-shan-ding MV revealed a possible link between gas flux and electrical
resistivity of the vadose zone. This suggests that unsaturated subsoil is a preferential zone for shallow gas accumulation and seepage to the atmosphere. Besides, miniseepage flux in Chu-huo everlasting fire decreases by increasing the distance from the main gas channeling zone and molecular fractionation
(methane/ethane ratio) is higher for lower flux seepage, consistently with what observed in other MVs worldwide. Measurements from Azerbaijan, Italy, Romania, and Taiwan converge to indicate that miniseepage is directly proportional to the vent output and it is a significant component of the total methane budget of a MV. A miniseepage vs. macro-seepage flux equation has been statistically assessed and it can be used to estimate theoretically at least the order of magnitude of the flux of miniseepage for MVs of which only the flux from vents was evaluated, or will be evaluated in future. This will allow a more complete and objective quantification of gas emission in MVs, thus also refining the estimate of the global methane emission from geological sources.
References
Brown, A., 2000. Evaluation of possible gas microseepage mechanisms. American
Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 84, 1775–1789.
Cardellini, C., Chiodini, G., Frondini, F., Granieri, D., Lewicki, J., Peruzzi, L., 2003.
Accumulation chamber measurements of methane fluxes: application to
volcanic-geothermal areas and landfills. Applied Geochemistry 18, 45–54.
Chang, P.Y., Yang, T.F., Chi, L., Hong, W.L., 2010. An observation of the electrical
resistivity variation before and after the Pingtung Earthquake in the
Wushanting Mud Volcano Area in Southwestern Taiwan. Journal of
Environmental and Engineering Geophysics 15, 213–219.
Chao, H.-C., You, C.-F., Sun, C.-H., 2010. Gases in Taiwan mud volcanoes: chemical
composition, methane carbon isotopes, and gas fluxes. Applied Geochemistry
25, 428–436.
Cheng, C.Y., Heinicke, J., Fu, C.C., Yang, T.F., Tong, L.T., 2008. Emission flux of CO2
through an active fault zone in SW Taiwan. Eos Transactions American
Geophysical Union, 89(53), Fall Meeting Supplementary, Abstract U41B-0015.
Chiu, J.K., Tseng, W.H., Liu, C.S., 2006. Distribution of gassy sediments and mud
volcanoes offshore southwestern Taiwan. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences 17, 703–722.
Chuang, P.C., Yang, T.F., Lin, S., Lee, H.F., Lan, T.F.F., Hong, W.L., Liu, C.S., Chen, J.C.,
Wang, Y., 2006. Extremely high methane concentration in bottom water and
cored sediments from offshore southwestern Taiwan. Terrestrial Atmospheric
and Oceanic Sciences 17, 903–920.
Chuang, P.C., Yang, T.F., Hong, W.L., Lin, S., Sun, C.H., Lin, A.T.S., Chen, J.C., Wang, Y.,
Chung, S.H., 2010. Estimation of methane flux offshore SW Taiwan and the
influence of tectonics on gas hydrate accumulation. Geofluids 10, 497–510.
Cramer, S.D., 1984. Solubility of methane in brines from 0 to 300 C. Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry Process Design and Development 23 (3), 533–538.
Dimitrov, L.I., 2002. Mud volcanoes – the most important pathway for degassing
deeply buried sediments. Earth-Science Reviews 59, 49–76.
EMEP/EEA, 2009. EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook – 2009.
Technical guidance to prepare national emission inventories. European
Environment Agency Technical Report No 6/2009. European Environment
Agency, Copenhagen. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2800/23924.
Etiope, G., Klusman, R., 2010. Microseepage in drylands: flux and implications in the
global atmospheric source/sink budget of methane. Global and Planetary
Change 72, 265–274. Etiope, G., Milkov, A.V., 2004. A new estimate of global methane flux from onshore
and shallow submarine mud volcanoes to the atmosphere. Environmental
Geology 46, 997–1002.
Etiope, G., Caracausi, A., Favara, R., Italiano, F., Baciu, C., 2002. Methane emission
from the mud volcanoes of Sicily (Italy). Geophysical Research Letters 29 (8),
1215. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2001GL014340.
Etiope, G., Baciu, C., Caracausi, A., Italiano, F., Cosma, C., 2004a. Gas flux to the
atmosphere from mud volcanoes in eastern Romania. Terra Nova 16, 179–184.
Etiope, G., Feyzullayev, A., Baciu, C.L., Milkov, A.V., 2004b. Methane emission from
mud volcanoes in eastern Azerbaijan. Geology 32, 465–468.
Etiope, G., Guerra, M., Raschi, A., 2005. Carbon Dioxide and Radon Geohazards over a
Gas-bearing Fault in the Siena Graben (Central Italy). Terrestrial, Atmospheric
and Oceanic Sciences 16, 885–896.
Etiope, G., Martinelli, G., Caracausi, A., Italiano, F., 2007. Methane seeps and mud
volcanoes in Italy: gas origin, fractionation and emission to the atmosphere.
Geophysical Research Letters 34, L14303.
Etiope, G., Milkov, A.V., Derbyshire, E., 2008. Did geologic emissions of methane play
any role in quaternary climate change? Global and Planetary Change 61, 79–88.
Etiope, G., Feyzullayev, A., Baciu, C.L., 2009. Terrestrial methane seeps and mud
volcanoes: a global perspective of gas origin. Marine Petroleum Geology 26,
333–344.
Etiope, G., Nakada, R., Tanaka, K., Yoshida, N., 2011. Gas seepage from Tokamachi
mud volcanoes, onshore Niigata Basin (Japan): origin, post-genetic alterations
and CH4-CO2 fluxes. Applied Geochemistry 26 (3), 348–359.
Guliyev, I., Feizullayev, A., 1997. All about Mud Volcanoes. Geology Institute,
Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences.
Hernandez, P., Perez, N., Salazar, J., Nakai, S., Notsu, K., Wakita, H., 1998. Diffuse
emission of carbon dioxide, methane, and helium-3 from Teide volcano,
Tenerife, Canary Islands. Geophysical Research Letters, 25.
Howell, D., 2002. Statistical Methods for Psychology. Duxbury Press, Belmont, CA.
Huang, C.Y., Wu, W.Y., Chang, C.P., Tsao, S., Yuan, P.B., Lin, C.W., Xia, K.Y., 1997.
Tectonic evolution of accretionary prism in the arc-continent collision terrane
of Taiwan. Tectonophysics 281, 31–51.
Huang, C.Y., Yuan, P.B., Tsao, S.J., 2006. Temporal and spatial records of active arccontinent
collision in Taiwan: a synthesis. Geological Society of America
Bulletin 118, 274–288.
Klusman, R., Leopold, M., LeRoy, M., 2000. Seasonal variation in methane fluxes
from sedimentary basins to the atmosphere: results from chamber
measurements and modeling of transport from deep sources. Journal of
Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 105 (D20), 24661–24670.
Lan, T.F., Yang, T.F., Lee, H.F., Chen, Y.G., Chen, C.H., Song, S.R., Tsao, S., 2007.
Compositions and flux of soil gas in Liu-Huang-Ku hydrothermal area, northern
Taiwan. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 165, 32–45.
Lee, H.F., Yang, T.F., Lan, T.F., Song, S.R., Tsao, S., 2005. Fumarolic gas composition of
the Tatun Volcano Group, northern Taiwan. Terrestrial Atmospheric and
Oceanic Sciences 16, 843–864.
Lin, S., Hsieh, W.C., Lim, Y.C., Yang, T.F., Liu, C.S., Wang, Y., 2006. Methane migration
and its influence on sulfate reduction in the Good Weather Ridge region, South
China Sea continental margin sediments. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences 17, 883–902.
Lin, A.T., Liu, C.S., Lin, C.C., Schnurle, P., Chen, G.Y., Liao, W.Z., Teng, L.S., Chuang, H.J.,
Wu, M.S., 2008. Tectonic features associated with the overriding of an
accretionary wedge on top of a rifted continental margin: an example from
Taiwan. Marine Geology 255, 186–203.
Livingston, G., Hutchinson, G., 1995. Enclosure-based measurement of trace gas
exchange: applications and sources of error. In: Matson, P., Harriss, R. (Eds.),
Biogenic Trace Gases: Measuring Emissions from Soil and Water. Blackwell
Scientific Publications, London, pp. 14–51.
Milkov, A.V., 2000. Worldwide distribution of submarine mud volcanoes and
associated gas hydrates. Marine Geology 167, 29–42.
Mouthereau, F., Lacombe, O., Deffontaines, B., Angelier, J., Brusset, S., 2001.
Deformation history of the southwestern Taiwan foreland thrust belt: insights
from tectono-sedimentary analyses and balanced cross-sections.
Tectonophysics 333, 293–318.
Norman, J.M., Kucharik, C.J., Gower, S.T., Baldocchi, D.D., Crill, P.M., Rayment, M.,
Savage, K., Striegl, R.G., 1997. A comparison of six methods for measuring soilsurface
carbon dioxide fluxes. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres
102, 28771–28777.
Spulber, L., Etiope, G., Baciu, C., Maloss, C., Vlad, S.N., 2010. Methane emission from
natural gas seeps and mud volcanoes in Transylvania (Romania). Geofluids 10
(4), 463–475.
Thielemann, T., Lucke, A., Schleser, G.H., Littke, R., 2000. Methane exchange between
coal-bearing basins and the: the Ruhr Basin and the Lower Rhine Embayment,
Germany. Organic Geochemistry 31, 1387–1408.
Wilks, D., 2006. Statistical Methods in the Atmospheric Sciences. Academic Press.
Yang, T.F., Chou, C.Y., Chen, C-H., Chyi, L.L., Jiang, J.H., 2003. Exhalation of radon and
its carrier gases in SW Taiwan. Radiation Measurements 36, 425–429.
Yang, T.F., Yeh, G.H., Fu, C.C., Wang, C.C., Lan, T.F., Lee, H.F., Chen, C.H., Walia, V.,
Sung, Q.C., 2004. Composition and exhalation flux of gases from mud volcanoes
in Taiwan. Environmental Geology 46, 1003–1011.
Yang, T.F., Chuang, P.C., Lin, S., Chen, J.C., Wang, Y., Chung, S.H., 2006. Methane
venting in gas hydrate potential area offshore of SW Taiwan: evidence of gas
analysis of water column samples. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences 17, 933–950.
Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin 84, 1775–1789.
Cardellini, C., Chiodini, G., Frondini, F., Granieri, D., Lewicki, J., Peruzzi, L., 2003.
Accumulation chamber measurements of methane fluxes: application to
volcanic-geothermal areas and landfills. Applied Geochemistry 18, 45–54.
Chang, P.Y., Yang, T.F., Chi, L., Hong, W.L., 2010. An observation of the electrical
resistivity variation before and after the Pingtung Earthquake in the
Wushanting Mud Volcano Area in Southwestern Taiwan. Journal of
Environmental and Engineering Geophysics 15, 213–219.
Chao, H.-C., You, C.-F., Sun, C.-H., 2010. Gases in Taiwan mud volcanoes: chemical
composition, methane carbon isotopes, and gas fluxes. Applied Geochemistry
25, 428–436.
Cheng, C.Y., Heinicke, J., Fu, C.C., Yang, T.F., Tong, L.T., 2008. Emission flux of CO2
through an active fault zone in SW Taiwan. Eos Transactions American
Geophysical Union, 89(53), Fall Meeting Supplementary, Abstract U41B-0015.
Chiu, J.K., Tseng, W.H., Liu, C.S., 2006. Distribution of gassy sediments and mud
volcanoes offshore southwestern Taiwan. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences 17, 703–722.
Chuang, P.C., Yang, T.F., Lin, S., Lee, H.F., Lan, T.F.F., Hong, W.L., Liu, C.S., Chen, J.C.,
Wang, Y., 2006. Extremely high methane concentration in bottom water and
cored sediments from offshore southwestern Taiwan. Terrestrial Atmospheric
and Oceanic Sciences 17, 903–920.
Chuang, P.C., Yang, T.F., Hong, W.L., Lin, S., Sun, C.H., Lin, A.T.S., Chen, J.C., Wang, Y.,
Chung, S.H., 2010. Estimation of methane flux offshore SW Taiwan and the
influence of tectonics on gas hydrate accumulation. Geofluids 10, 497–510.
Cramer, S.D., 1984. Solubility of methane in brines from 0 to 300 C. Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry Process Design and Development 23 (3), 533–538.
Dimitrov, L.I., 2002. Mud volcanoes – the most important pathway for degassing
deeply buried sediments. Earth-Science Reviews 59, 49–76.
EMEP/EEA, 2009. EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook – 2009.
Technical guidance to prepare national emission inventories. European
Environment Agency Technical Report No 6/2009. European Environment
Agency, Copenhagen. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2800/23924.
Etiope, G., Klusman, R., 2010. Microseepage in drylands: flux and implications in the
global atmospheric source/sink budget of methane. Global and Planetary
Change 72, 265–274. Etiope, G., Milkov, A.V., 2004. A new estimate of global methane flux from onshore
and shallow submarine mud volcanoes to the atmosphere. Environmental
Geology 46, 997–1002.
Etiope, G., Caracausi, A., Favara, R., Italiano, F., Baciu, C., 2002. Methane emission
from the mud volcanoes of Sicily (Italy). Geophysical Research Letters 29 (8),
1215. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2001GL014340.
Etiope, G., Baciu, C., Caracausi, A., Italiano, F., Cosma, C., 2004a. Gas flux to the
atmosphere from mud volcanoes in eastern Romania. Terra Nova 16, 179–184.
Etiope, G., Feyzullayev, A., Baciu, C.L., Milkov, A.V., 2004b. Methane emission from
mud volcanoes in eastern Azerbaijan. Geology 32, 465–468.
Etiope, G., Guerra, M., Raschi, A., 2005. Carbon Dioxide and Radon Geohazards over a
Gas-bearing Fault in the Siena Graben (Central Italy). Terrestrial, Atmospheric
and Oceanic Sciences 16, 885–896.
Etiope, G., Martinelli, G., Caracausi, A., Italiano, F., 2007. Methane seeps and mud
volcanoes in Italy: gas origin, fractionation and emission to the atmosphere.
Geophysical Research Letters 34, L14303.
Etiope, G., Milkov, A.V., Derbyshire, E., 2008. Did geologic emissions of methane play
any role in quaternary climate change? Global and Planetary Change 61, 79–88.
Etiope, G., Feyzullayev, A., Baciu, C.L., 2009. Terrestrial methane seeps and mud
volcanoes: a global perspective of gas origin. Marine Petroleum Geology 26,
333–344.
Etiope, G., Nakada, R., Tanaka, K., Yoshida, N., 2011. Gas seepage from Tokamachi
mud volcanoes, onshore Niigata Basin (Japan): origin, post-genetic alterations
and CH4-CO2 fluxes. Applied Geochemistry 26 (3), 348–359.
Guliyev, I., Feizullayev, A., 1997. All about Mud Volcanoes. Geology Institute,
Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences.
Hernandez, P., Perez, N., Salazar, J., Nakai, S., Notsu, K., Wakita, H., 1998. Diffuse
emission of carbon dioxide, methane, and helium-3 from Teide volcano,
Tenerife, Canary Islands. Geophysical Research Letters, 25.
Howell, D., 2002. Statistical Methods for Psychology. Duxbury Press, Belmont, CA.
Huang, C.Y., Wu, W.Y., Chang, C.P., Tsao, S., Yuan, P.B., Lin, C.W., Xia, K.Y., 1997.
Tectonic evolution of accretionary prism in the arc-continent collision terrane
of Taiwan. Tectonophysics 281, 31–51.
Huang, C.Y., Yuan, P.B., Tsao, S.J., 2006. Temporal and spatial records of active arccontinent
collision in Taiwan: a synthesis. Geological Society of America
Bulletin 118, 274–288.
Klusman, R., Leopold, M., LeRoy, M., 2000. Seasonal variation in methane fluxes
from sedimentary basins to the atmosphere: results from chamber
measurements and modeling of transport from deep sources. Journal of
Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 105 (D20), 24661–24670.
Lan, T.F., Yang, T.F., Lee, H.F., Chen, Y.G., Chen, C.H., Song, S.R., Tsao, S., 2007.
Compositions and flux of soil gas in Liu-Huang-Ku hydrothermal area, northern
Taiwan. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 165, 32–45.
Lee, H.F., Yang, T.F., Lan, T.F., Song, S.R., Tsao, S., 2005. Fumarolic gas composition of
the Tatun Volcano Group, northern Taiwan. Terrestrial Atmospheric and
Oceanic Sciences 16, 843–864.
Lin, S., Hsieh, W.C., Lim, Y.C., Yang, T.F., Liu, C.S., Wang, Y., 2006. Methane migration
and its influence on sulfate reduction in the Good Weather Ridge region, South
China Sea continental margin sediments. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences 17, 883–902.
Lin, A.T., Liu, C.S., Lin, C.C., Schnurle, P., Chen, G.Y., Liao, W.Z., Teng, L.S., Chuang, H.J.,
Wu, M.S., 2008. Tectonic features associated with the overriding of an
accretionary wedge on top of a rifted continental margin: an example from
Taiwan. Marine Geology 255, 186–203.
Livingston, G., Hutchinson, G., 1995. Enclosure-based measurement of trace gas
exchange: applications and sources of error. In: Matson, P., Harriss, R. (Eds.),
Biogenic Trace Gases: Measuring Emissions from Soil and Water. Blackwell
Scientific Publications, London, pp. 14–51.
Milkov, A.V., 2000. Worldwide distribution of submarine mud volcanoes and
associated gas hydrates. Marine Geology 167, 29–42.
Mouthereau, F., Lacombe, O., Deffontaines, B., Angelier, J., Brusset, S., 2001.
Deformation history of the southwestern Taiwan foreland thrust belt: insights
from tectono-sedimentary analyses and balanced cross-sections.
Tectonophysics 333, 293–318.
Norman, J.M., Kucharik, C.J., Gower, S.T., Baldocchi, D.D., Crill, P.M., Rayment, M.,
Savage, K., Striegl, R.G., 1997. A comparison of six methods for measuring soilsurface
carbon dioxide fluxes. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres
102, 28771–28777.
Spulber, L., Etiope, G., Baciu, C., Maloss, C., Vlad, S.N., 2010. Methane emission from
natural gas seeps and mud volcanoes in Transylvania (Romania). Geofluids 10
(4), 463–475.
Thielemann, T., Lucke, A., Schleser, G.H., Littke, R., 2000. Methane exchange between
coal-bearing basins and the: the Ruhr Basin and the Lower Rhine Embayment,
Germany. Organic Geochemistry 31, 1387–1408.
Wilks, D., 2006. Statistical Methods in the Atmospheric Sciences. Academic Press.
Yang, T.F., Chou, C.Y., Chen, C-H., Chyi, L.L., Jiang, J.H., 2003. Exhalation of radon and
its carrier gases in SW Taiwan. Radiation Measurements 36, 425–429.
Yang, T.F., Yeh, G.H., Fu, C.C., Wang, C.C., Lan, T.F., Lee, H.F., Chen, C.H., Walia, V.,
Sung, Q.C., 2004. Composition and exhalation flux of gases from mud volcanoes
in Taiwan. Environmental Geology 46, 1003–1011.
Yang, T.F., Chuang, P.C., Lin, S., Chen, J.C., Wang, Y., Chung, S.H., 2006. Methane
venting in gas hydrate potential area offshore of SW Taiwan: evidence of gas
analysis of water column samples. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic
Sciences 17, 933–950.
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