GRADUATE STUDENT KEVIN MARTIN STUDIES DEEP SEA METHANE

USM Department of Marine Science faculty member Vernon Asper and graduate student Kevin Martin are participants in a study of deep sea formations of methane hydrates, formations of frozen water encapsulating methane molecules. The formations may provide a future source of energy, but can also pose a threat to oil operations. Martin participated in a weeklong research cruise off the Mississippi Gulf coast aboard the Harbor Branch Oceanographic research vessel Seward Johnson. The trip was a collaboration of nine universities, including USM, as part of the Gulf of Mexico Hydrate Research Consortium.

The location of the hydrate mound of interest for the group, at around 2900 ft below sea level, required the capabilities of the Johnson Sea Link (JSL) submersible. All of the data recovered on the cruise was done using the JSL, with two 3-hour dives a day. Geochemical, biochemical and microbiology research was conducted throughout the 5 days. The instrumentation used in most of these studies was state of the art, with some sensors (including Kevin’s sensor) having never been used before.

Kevin’s role on the cruise was to deploy a new device to detect and quantify naturally occurring gas bubbles. The deployment of Kevin’s sensor was done in conjunction with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s deployment of another bubble detector and instrumentation array. Daily cruise reports, provided by Kevin, were published in the Mississippi Sun Herald newspaper. Furthermore, a film crew from the Discovery Channel was aboard the ship filming for an upcoming episode on future fuel sources.

Further details about DMS graduate programs, faculty, and location can be found elsewhere on this site.