SHOULD WE GET ENERGY FROM COLD

SEEPS?By: Erik Ohman (Biologist), Myah

Palechek (Geologist), Sage Wackett (Chemist), Emma

Grapentine (Physicist)

What are Cold Seeps?Cold Seeps are ecosystems that survive off of methane that “seeps” through gaps in the crust of the Earth. We would use these as a energy source by harnessing the methane from them.

Negatives from a Biologist Stand Point

Noise from machinery can put stress on clam

Machinery can take up living space for organisms

Taking the main food source from organisms that are specialized to absorb only methane and other chemicals

If there was a methane spill, that could effect organisms in other ecosystems that don’t use methane

Positive from a Biologist stand point

Cheaper gas to save money on research trips, which would result in more research trips and learning more about the cold seep ecosystem

Negatives from a Physicist’s Stand Point

If there was a “methane spill”, methane would be displaced from the waves and tides

That could effect other parts of the ocean

Positives from a Physicist's stand point

It’s wouldn’t affect currents, tides, or waves. The currents and tides would just flow around the pipe that is collecting the methane.

It would be a new way of creating energy Cheap form of gas

Positives/Negatives of Geologist Stand Point

It wouldn’t physically affect the cold seeps either way If we drill into it, it won’t effect the geological

make up of the cold seeps If we don’t, nothing will happen to the seeps

Negatives from a Chemist’s Stand Point

When we drill into these cold seeps, chemicals are released into the atmosphere

Also, when we burn methane as a fuel, it will add to our greenhouse effect and continue changing our climate

Positives from a Chemist’s Stand Point

There are no positives

We shouldn’t tap into cold seeps as energy resources

Negatives Send species into extinction Ruin ecosystem Add to greenhouse effect Release dangerous chemicals into the airPositives Creation of jobs Cheap Gas

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Ham, Becky. Ocean Seep Mollusks May Share Evolutionary History with Other Deep-Sea Creatures. 9 September 2006. 7 February 2013 <http://www.aaas.org/news/releases/2006/0908mollusk.shtml>.

Levin, Lisa A. ECOLOGY OF COLD SEEP SEDIMENTS:. 2005. 7 February 2013 <http://levin.ucsd.edu/publications/Levin%20OMBAR%2005.pdf>.

noaa.gov. Cold Seeps in Monterey Bay. 7 February 2013 <http://montereybay.noaa.gov/sitechar/cold3.html>.

Oregon State University. Benthic Microbial Fuel Cells. 2005-2011. 7 February 2013 <http://sbi.oregonstate.edu/news/200901.htm>.

Sibuet, S. Kim Juniper & Myriam. Cold Seep Benthic Communities in Japan. 7 February 2013 <http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/40/m040p115.pdf>.

Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia. Cold seep. 25 January 2013. 7 February 2013 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_seep>.