Isotopic composition of bottom and interstitial waters in the area of gas plumes, Sea of Okhotsk

Investigations indicate that heavy isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen are used in generation of gas hydrate, so that isotopic composition of its water of constitution is: d18O = +1.9 per mil, d2H = +23 per mil (relative to SMOW). Production of authigenic carbonates results in isotopic exchange with interstitial water, which in turn alters its isotopic composition by an increase in d18O.

Bottom waters are isotopically light relative to the SMOW standard and to the average isotopic composition of interstitial waters in the area of gas hydrate occurrence in study.