Disposal of anthropogenic CO_2 in the ocean has been considered asa method to counteract global warming. A desirable method of theocean disposal is to convert the less dense liquefied CO_2 intodenser CO_2 hydrate via a submerged hydrate crystallizer at a depth <500 m. The fate of CO_2 hydrate in the ocean has been investigated.It is shown in this study that hydrate particles released in theocean are physicochemically unstable; however, hydrate decompositionoccurs only as a surface phenomenon. Because CO_2 hydrate is denserthan seawater, hydrate particles will sink in the ocean. During thedescending process, the hydrate particles dissolve gradually inseawater owing to decomposition occurring continuously at surfaces ofhydrate particles. This dissolution fate of CO_2 hydrate in the oceanis significantly different from the previous prediction that thedisposed CO_2 hydrate would exist as a long-lasting entity in theocean.
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