Methane Hydrate... Climate Killer or Enviromental Saivor?

Our enviroment is in deep trouble these days. Emmissions from burning fossil fuels from coal, oil, and gas have polluted our atmosphre. Higher than normal amounts of the greenhouse gas Carbon Dioxide has been suspected to be causing global warming. But is it really worse than that? Maybe carbon dioxide should be our least concern.

Locked inside of the oceanic crust of the Earth, there are deposites of a substance known as Methane Hydrate. While it's usually frozen in the underwater depths, some of it in gasous form can escape from the ocean floor and come near the surface. It's been known to sink ships, since it can lower the boyancy of the water, and the ship is unable to float. But to make matters worse, methane hydrate is also a greenhouse gas, and it's unknown exactly how much of it there is underwater. Scientists say that while carbon Dioxide can raise the global tempiture up to 5 degrees F in the next 100 years at it's present rate of increase, Methane Hydrate can raise it 13 degrees in only 10 years. The climate could be ruined, crops will fail, storms will get worse, and in less time than anything humans can do. And while we can control CO2 Emmissions, Methane Hydrate is nautral, and unstoppable, should it happen.

However, Methane Hydrate can be used to do good. It is a combustible substance, both in solid and gas forms. And it burns much cleaner than fossil fuels can. While we don't have the technology to begin extracting large amounts of it, maybe in the future, it can be an alternative energy source. Carbon Dioxide will be reduced, and the harmful Methane Hydrate would be used up, so it couldn't cause much damage to the world. The atmosphere could become a much cleaner place.

Sorry for my horrible spelling. lol.

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