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GATE 2025 ES – Question 31

Environmental Management and Sustainable Development · Energy and Environment · 1 mark · Multiple select

Methane hydrates trap methane in a water-crystal structure. Which statements are correct?

  1. They occur abundantly near ocean beds where pressure is sufficiently high.
  2. They occur abundantly in polar regions where temperature is sufficiently low.
  3. They are a large energy resource, but released methane can intensify warming.
  4. They are a large energy resource but difficult to exploit commercially.

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (A) They occur abundantly near ocean beds where pressure is sufficiently high.; (C) They are a large energy resource, but released methane can intensify warming.; (D) They are a large energy resource but difficult to exploit commercially.

Explanation

Deep marine sediments provide favorable high-pressure, low-temperature conditions. Methane is an energy resource and a strong greenhouse gas; safe economic extraction is difficult. The official selections are **A, C, D**. B is excluded by the key: low polar temperature alone does not establish the pressure and methane supply needed for hydrate stability. Hydrates do occur in suitable permafrost settings, so B’s broad geographic statement should not be read as proving absence in polar regions.

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