MOSCOW, July 17 (RIA Novosti) - Submersibles involved in research in Siberia's Lake Baikal have brought to the surface some 5 kilograms (11 lbs) of gas hydrates, a expedition participant told RIA Novosti on Friday.
Gas hydrates are considered to be a possible alternative to oil and gas, and have a higher concentration of hydrocarbons.
"As a result of yesterday's dives...scientists discovered gas hydrate humps that are larger than in any other sea or ocean," the researcher said.
The gas hydrates were found near the submerged St. Petersburg Volcano in Lake Baikal's southern basin. Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world.
Gas hydrates look like tightly packed snow and are flammable when the gas separates from the water as the temperature increases. The scientist said researchers had earlier attempted to raise several sheets of gas hydrates to the surface but they disintegrated as the temperature increased.
The Mir-1 and Mir-2 mini-subs, which performed 52 dives last summer, resumed work in June to monitor the southern part of the lake, near Cape Tolsty. The expedition will then proceed to the north, with plans to conduct research in the lake's central part in July and in northern Baikal in August.
