4.  Methane Hydrates and Global Climate Change

The USGS has maintained a research program on methane hydrates for two decades and anticipates increasing its emphasis on linkages between gas hydrates and global climate change in the coming years.  On present-day Earth, sequestering of methane in the gas hydrate deposits that are widespread in permafrost regions and continental margin marine sediments prevents methane from reaching the atmosphere and being oxidized to the long-lived greenhouse gas CO₂.  On geologic time scales, the hydrate reservoir has not always been so efficient at sequestering methane.  For example, there is now ample evidence that marked warming during the Late Paleocene Thermal Maximum (~55 Ma) probably caused dissociation of some portion of the global marine hydrate reservoir and the release of methane to the oceans and possibly atmosphere.  Linking atmospheric/ocean warming events to dissociation of parts of the gas hydrate reservoir has been more difficult for the period between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the present, and no study has yet established that gas hydrates are currently degassing in response to Earth warming since the onset of the Holocene.  The USGS is well-equipped to address some of the knowledge gaps related to the interaction between gas hydrates and climate since the LGM and to examine the present and future vulnerability of gas hydrate deposits under scenarios of ongoing or predicted global climate change.   

We seek a highly qualified scientist with Ph.D. training in geoscience, oceanography, physics, or chemistry to pursue fundamental research that will advance understanding of the impact of climate change on marine and/or permafrost gas hydrates and/or the possible impact of gas hydrate dissociation and increased methane emissions on the ocean-atmosphere system.  The incumbent’s research project may focus on a time period of any duration starting with the Last Glacial Maximum and extending into the future; however, projects that can expand our understanding of Holocene, contemporary or future methane hydrate-climate interaction are preferred.  A multidisciplinary approach that takes advantage of the diverse strengths of USGS scientists and their external academic collaborators is strongly encouraged, as is research that combines field data acquisition, laboratory analyses, and/or numerical modeling.  

Potential projects include, but are not limited to, the assessment of linkages among climate change, large submarine slide events, and marine hydrate deposits using geophysical or geochronologic data; analysis of geochemical or geophysical data from the Alaskan North Slope to assess the potential role of gas hydrates in contemporary or future Arctic methane emissions; refinement of laboratory techniques and development of proof-of-concept field tests for distinguishing hydrate-derived methane from other methane sources (e.g., conventional hydrocarbons) in marine and high latitude terrestrial settings; compiling a global inventory of methane seeps to constrain contemporary integrated methane flux and to assess the potential sensitivity of seep methane emissions to IPCC climate change scenarios;  and numerical modeling of the impact of ongoing and anticipated Arctic Ocean temperature changes on the long-term stability of subshelf relict permafrost and gas hydrates.

The priority given to gas hydrate research at the national level is manifest by the 2000 U.S. Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act that was renewed by Congress under the auspices of the 2005 Energy Act.   The USGS is a key participant and leader in gas hydrate research on energy resources, production, geohazards, and the impact of gas hydrate reservoir degassing being managed by the U.S. Department of Energy under the mandates of the Congressional legislation. 

Proposed Duty Station: Woods Hole, MA

Areas of Ph.D.: Geology, geophysics, geochemistry, oceanography, physics, or chemistry

Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following qualifications: Research Geologist, Research Oceanographer, Research Physicist, Research Chemist, Research Geophysicist

(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable depending on the applicant's background, education, and research proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by the Human Resources specialist.)

Research Advisor: Carolyn Ruppel, (508) 457-2339, cruppel@usgs.gov

Human Resources Office contact: Brian Arnold-Renicker, (703) 648-7468, brenicke@usgs.gov

Summary of Opportunities