Geophysical characterisation of an actively gas-seeping pockmark on the West-Svalbard continental slope

Seabed fluid flow is a globally significant natural process with implications for various aspects of the marine and global environment.

The study focuses on methane seeping from a newly investigated pockmark in one of the most significant seepage province in the world: the West Svalbard continental drift. The study was conducted on historical databases compared with new geophysical data acquired during Akma2 Ocean Senses expedition in may 2022. The expedition employed ROV technology, SBP data, heat flow and bathymetric data to uncover unprecedented insights into the geological and environmental factors at play. In particular, the study conducted on this active gas-seeping pockmark provided insight about its formation, migration, geothermal and gas exchanges and impact on the marine environment. The importance of understanding the mechanisms and identifying seabed fluid flow is emphasised for comprehending its distribution over time and space. The features associated with fluid flow are determined by fluid and migration mechanisms, influenced by the stress environment within sediments.

This study adds new information that can be used for understanding the impact of seabed fluid flow for addressing environmental hazards, evaluating energy resources, and climate changes.