2012 Natural Gas Hydrate Systems Gordon Research Conference (1 year)

甲烷水合物是一种独特的冰状矿物，大量存在于北方纬度的陆地和海洋沉积物中。 在室温下，这些矿物质蒸发并释放大量甲烷，这是一种强烈的温室气体。 大量的这些矿物会变得不稳定，随着地球表面和海洋变暖，它们会向大气中释放甲烷，这是一个严重的问题。 该奖项为2012年3月在加州文图拉举行的第二届戈登天然气水合物研究会议提供部分资金。 这个为期四天半的会议汇集了来自学术界，工业界和美国国家实验室系统的专家，以及包括学生和早期职业研究人员在内的其他参与者。讨论的主题将是：天然气水合物的物理和化学，水合物的生产，过去和现在的环境中的水合物，最近令人兴奋的发现，以及我们对其他星球上水合物的了解。 会议的重点将是是否有可能以可持续的方式生产水合物。 这项工作的更广泛影响包括该主题对全球变暖和地质灾害的重要性，以及在一个变暖的世界中斜坡和地面稳定性。会议的重点将是学生，博士后和早期职业教师的参与。 将提供研究金，以帮助支持历来在科学和工程领域代表性不足的群体成员的参与。

Methane gas hydrate is a unique ice-like mineral that occurs in large quantities on land in northern latitudes and in marine sediments. At room temperature, these minerals vaporize and release large quantities of methane which is a strong greenhouse gas. The vast quantities of these minerals which stand to become unstable and release methane to the atmosphere as Earth's surface and oceans warm is a serious concern. This award provides partial funding for the Second Gordon Research Conference on Natural Gas Hydrates in Ventura, California in March of 2012. This four and a half day conference brings experts from academia, industry, and the US National Lab system together with other participants including students and early career researchers. Topics of discussion will be: the physics and chemistry of gas hydrates, hydrate production, hydrates in the past and present environment, recent exciting discoveries, and what we know about hydrates on other planets. A focus of the conference will be on whether it is possible to produce hydrates in a sustainable manner. Broader impacts of the work include the importance of the theme to global warming and geohazards with regard to slope and ground stability in a warming world. An emphasis of the conference will be the engagement of students, postdocs, and early career faculty. Fellowships will be made available to help support the participation of members of groups historically under-represented in the sciences and engineering.