Occurrence and acoustical significance of natural gas hydrates in marine sediments

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Abstract
This article reviews current knowledge concerning gas hydrates in marine sediments: their chemistry, occurrence, formation conditions, and acoustic properties. In a hydrated sediment the water molecules form an icelike crystalline structure, which traps the gas molecules within it. This structure can greatly increase compressional sound velocity and may alter shear velocity and absorption processes from those expected for typical marine sediment types. The potential impact of hydrates on underwater acoustics is demonstrated through computations of bottom reflection loss for a hypothetical subbottom structure containing a hydrate zone.

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