Development of submarine methane-hydrate assessment using high precision chlorine isotope ratio

• Project/Area Number: 25550011
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Environmental dynamic analysis
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: ZHANG Jing 富山大学, 大学院理工学研究部(理学), 教授 (20301822)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TAKEUCHI Akira 富山大学, 大学院理工学研究部(理学), 教授 (20126494)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000)
• Keywords: メタンハイドレート / メタンプルーム / 塩素同位体比 / 日本海東縁 / アスファルトシープ / ブラジル沖 / 塩素同位体 / 地殻変動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Multiple biogeochemical tracers (e.g. stable isotopes, major and trace elements) were utilized for sea water and pore water in sediment as approaches to establishing methane hydrate (MH) monitoring in this study. Comparative studies off Joetsu coast, western central Japan, with MH and non-MH areas off eastern Brazil were conducted. A new MH area off the Joetsu coast with multiple methane plumes in the water column and bacteria mats on the sea floor was discovered and investigated. Significant sulfate reduction occurring in the pore water indicates high microbial activity in the sediment and also that nutrient/methane is supplied from the MH. There was no sulfate reduction and also moderately low phosphate observed in the pore water off Brazil coast indicating little microbial activity in the surface sediment. Moreover, a higher silicate gradient in pore water at an asphalt area, three times greater than at other dive sites observed, suggests higher seep activity under the seafloor.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] The Sea of Japan and its Unique Chemistry Revealed by Time-Series Observations over the Last 30 Years. (2014)
  • Author(s): Gamo, T., N. Nakayama, N., N. Takahata, N., Y. Sano, Y., J. Zhang, J., E. Yamazaki, E., S. Taniyasu. S., and N. Yamashita
  • Journal Title: Monographs on Environment, Earth and Planets (MEEP) Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Pages: 1-22
  • DOI: 10.5047/meep.2014.00201.0001
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] Characteristics of Adsorption Interactions of Cadmium(II) onto Humin from Peat Soil in Freshwater and Seawater Media (2014)
  • Author(s): Andreas R. and Zhang J.
  • Journal Title: Bull Environ Contamin Toxicol Volume: 92 Issue: 3 Pages: 352-357
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00128-014-1205-x
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Temporal changes and impacts of submarine fresh groundwater discharge to the coastal environment: A decadal case study in Toyama Bay, Japan. (2013)
  • Author(s): M. Hatta and J. Zhang
  • Journal Title: J. Geophys. Res: Oceans Volume: 0 Issue: 5 Pages: 1-13
  • DOI: 10.1002/jgrc.20184
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 化学的トレーサーを手法に日本海の深層水循環と気候変動を科学する (2015)
  • Author(s): 張 勁
  • Organizer: 第49回日本水環境学会年会
  • Place of Presentation: 金沢大学 角間キャンパス
  • Year and Date: 2015-03-16 – 2015-03-18
  • Invited
• [Presentation] Project Introduction on “Development of methods for ocean managements in the Japan Sea, an international enclosed coastal sea that includes continental shelves and island” (2015)
  • Author(s): Liu Q., Zhang J., Yoshida T., Hirose N., Morimoto A. and Guo X.
  • Organizer: The 2nd Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences
  • Place of Presentation: Xiamen University
  • Year and Date: 2015-01-07 – 2015-01-09
• [Presentation] Distribution of low oxygen water mass and its changes in the south-western area off Jeju island, East China Sea (2014)
  • Author(s): Zhang J., Luan Z.-Y., Ma H.-L. and Zhao M.-X.
  • Organizer: The 7th Program of the East Asian Cooperative Experiments (PEACE) Ocean Science Workshop
  • Place of Presentation: Ocean University of China, Qindao, China
  • Year and Date: 2014-10-28 – 2014-10-29
• [Presentation] Using chemical components and stable isotopes in snow cover to evaluate the volcanic gas impact in Jigoku Valley, Tateyama Mountain (2014)
  • Author(s): Kim S., Zhang J. and Wada N.
  • Organizer: 2014年度日本地球化学会第61回年会
  • Place of Presentation: 富山大学 共通教育棟
  • Year and Date: 2014-09-16 – 2014-09-18
• [Presentation] 化学トレーサーを用いた東シナ海低酸素水塊構造の実態解明 (2014)
  • Author(s): 欒 志遠，張 勁，麻 洪良
  • Organizer: 2014年度日本地球化学会第61回年会
  • Place of Presentation: 富山大学 共通教育棟
  • Year and Date: 2014-09-16 – 2014-09-18
• [Presentation] Characteristics of Chlorophyll and Nutrients Distribution in the Northern East China Sea (2014)
  • Author(s): Fujishiro Y., Zhang J., Matsuno T. and Ishizaka J.
  • Organizer: Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 11th Annual Meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Royton Sapporo Hotel. Japan
  • Year and Date: 2014-07-28 – 2014-08-01
• [Presentation] Mobility and Environmental Risk of Trace Metals in Surface Sediment of the East China Sea (Outer Shelf Continent) By BCR Sequential Method (2014)
  • Author(s): Andreas R. and Zhang J.
  • Organizer: Asia Oceania Geosciences Society 11th Annual Meeting
  • Place of Presentation: Royton Sapporo Hotel. Japan
  • Year and Date: 2014-07-28 – 2014-08-01
• [Presentation] 海洋酸性化が温帯性サンゴの成長に与える影響について (2014)
  • Author(s): 金 釗， 鈴木 淳，林 正裕，山本 雄三，堀田 公明，磯野 良介，渡邉 裕介，山野 博哉，野村 恵一，西田 梢，井上 麻夕里，張 勁，野尻 幸宏
  • Organizer: 日本地球惑星科学連合2014年大会
  • Place of Presentation: パシフィコ横浜 会議センター
  • Year and Date: 2014-04-28 – 2014-05-02
• [Presentation] Water mass interaction and chlorophyll/nutrient distribution in the cross-slope area of the northeastern edge of the East China Sea (2014)
  • Author(s): Zhang J., Fujishiro Y., Matsuno T. and Ishizaka J.
  • Organizer: 10th Cross-Strait Marine Science Conference
  • Place of Presentation: Howard Civil service International House, Taipei
  • Year and Date: 2014-04-27 – 2014-05-01