Hydrate Mound Experiments, Barkley Canyon, 2006

At Barkley Canyon, in the Pacific northwest, MBARI chemists study mounds on the seafloor made up of gas hydrates. Gas hydrates are a solid ice-like phase formed at low temperature and high pressure. Chemists use an instrument developed at MBARI, the in situ Laser Raman to gain insight into the chemistry of gas hydrates. From the spectrum, researchers will be able to determine the chemical composition and the crystal structure of the hydrate.