CAGE hosted 13th international conference on gas in marine sediments (GIMS) in Tromsø this week.
Text: Maja Sojtaric
GIMS brings together geologists, biologists, microbiologists, geophysicists, oceanographers, geochemists and scientists from modeling disciplines, as well as industry. The aim of the conference is to promote the study of natural gas and release systems on a global scale, and to facilitate interdisciplinary and international cooperation. The forum provides a platform for current knowledge and future programs in gas inventories, fluxes and the role within the carbon cycle and biodiversity.
“It is crucial to bring the ocean floor more to the attention of public and decision makers.” said CAGE director Jürgen Mienert.
CAGE at UiT The Arctic University of Norway hosted GIMS 13 in Tromsø from 19.-22. September
From lake Baikal to Gulf of Mexico
Oral presentations and posters covered diverse topics – from methane hydrates to bivalves associated with gas leaks. They also covered a diverse areas of the planet, taking the participants from the bottom om lake Baikal to Gulf of Mexico, from the craters at the bottom of the Arctic ocean to the fauna in the Congo deep-sea.
“The purpose of GIMS13 is to improve our knowledge about the functioning of gas in marine sediment systems. We also aim to better understand the related processes behind development of life forms on the seafloor.” said Mienert.
Over 100 participants from all over the world attended the conference, both from scientific institutions but also from industry and technology companies.
Next GIMS conference will be held at University of Haifa, Israel.
Best oral and best posters
During the conference CAGE, and the associated research school for Arctic Marine Geology and Geophysics, presented several participants with prizes for best poster and oral presentations.
Best oral presentations:
Markus Loher, Marum.
Pavel Serov, CAGE.
Best poster presentations:
Geophysics for gas hydrate and fluid flow prospecting: Malin Waage, CAGE
Modeling Gas Hydrate Formation and Gas Release: Li Wei, Ohio State University
Geochemistry of Fluid Environments: Guillaume Michel, IFREMER.
Regional Studies on Gas Hydrate and Fluid Emissions: Anastasia Semenova,
Biological, Microbiological and Biogeochemical Processes at Seep Environments: Andrea Schneider, CAGE.
Seafloor Observations: Pär Jansson, CAGE.
Technology: Romain Jatiault
