Preface to the Special Issue on Gas Hydrate Research around the South China Sea and Taiwan

Abstract

Gas hydrates are naturally occurring crystalline substances, in which a solid water lattice holds gas molecules in a cage-like structure. They have attracted much attention as an alternative energy resource potential, and may impact the global environment through generating slope instability. Consequently, much research utilizing different approaches has been carried out recently for better understanding the origin and characteristics of gas hydrates.

Keywords

• Gas hydrate research
• the South China Sea
• Taiwan