外大陆架边缘的海洋沉积物中存在大规模气体水合物已成为地学界的共识。海底气体水合物是由甲烷等气体和水分子组成的类似冰状的固态物质。根据目前的粗略估计,赋存在气体水合物中的碳约为10~(13)t,相当于全球其他化石燃料中碳含量的两倍。由于气体水合物处于亚稳定状态,因此它既可作为2l世纪潜在的能源资源,又可在非稳定状态导致海底滑塌和滑坡等地质灾害,并可通过释放甲烷显著影响全球气候。 The existence of large-scale gas hydrates in marine sediments on the outer continental margin has become the consensus of geosciences. Submarine gas hydrates are ice-like, solid-like substances composed of gases such as methane and water molecules. Based on current rough estimates, the carbon present in gas hydrates is about 10-13 t, which is equivalent to twice the carbon content of other fossil fuels in the world. Because gas hydrate is metastable, it can serve as a potential energy source for the 21st century and cause unsteady geological disasters such as seafloor slips and landslides. It can also significantly affect the global climate by releasing methane.