Chapter 001 Preface, Combustible Ice

This gas is present in very small quantities in combustible ice, is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect. Additionally, it is relatively stable and does not react with oxygen or other gases, classifying it as an inert gas. It is also harmless to the human body, which is why it has not received sufficient attention

In just a few short years, combustible ice has completely replaced traditional energy sources such as oil and coal, beginning to permeate various aspects of human life

Scientists have discovered that this substance has an astonishing power to alter the composition of the atmosphere, yet they have not been able to identify the specific dangers posed by this substance, nor have they found convenient and effective filtration methods, thus they can only publish some research articles symbolically

With the accelerated development of human civilization, the demand for energy is increasing day by day, while existing energy sources such as oil and coal are depleting. Energy has become an increasingly serious global issue and is one of the most important factors restricting human development. The search for alternative new energy sources is urgent

Although many environmentalists from various countries and some scientists have continuously protested against it, gaining support from many sectors of society, and even some political figures and legislators have participated in and supported them, through their persistent efforts, the government has also committed to gradually seeking alternative energy sources

Combustible ice, due to its location in the deep seabed and its primary component being methane, is extremely difficult to extract. Once methane gas is allowed to diffuse into the atmosphere, it poses a significant threat to the ozone layer, making extraction the greatest technical challenge.

Combustible ice has become the mainstream energy source for human society, from daily activities such as cooking and bathing to the chemical fuels used in rocket launches, and even in automobiles and electricity generation. Given that humanity has not yet found alternative energy sources in the short term and the inertia of societal usage, countries around the world can only continue to use combustible ice while searching for suitable alternative energy sources, with the aim of gradually reducing the reliance on combustible ice.

These gray gases float to various corners of the Earth with the atmospheric circulation. When these gray gases finally accumulate to a certain extent, they begin to gather in certain areas of the Earth as if attracted by something. These gray mists continue to accumulate and gradually become denser, ultimately forming a gray hemispherical region. These hemispherical regions vary in size and are scattered across all corners of the world

The widespread use of combustible ice has allowed interest groups from the initial investments to reap substantial profits, while also generating significant tax revenue for various countries, stimulating the development of many industries and invigorating national economies. In the face of such enormous vested interests, the search for alternative energy sources can only become an empty promise, resulting in combustible ice remaining the mainstream energy source in society. This situation has persisted, leading to an increasing amount of gray haze in the air, gradually filling the sky like dark clouds, and the composition of the atmosphere is changing at an accelerating pace. The search for alternative energy sources, in the face of such enormous vested interests, can only become an empty promise, resulting in combustible ice remaining the mainstream energy source in society. This situation has persisted, leading to an increasing amount of gray haze in the air, gradually filling the sky like dark clouds, and the composition of the atmosphere is changing at an accelerating pace.

At that time, many interest groups from various countries invested substantial funds to support the extraction projects of combustible ice, eager for a return on their investments. Under their intervention, whether intentionally or unintentionally, this unknown gas was overlooked, allowing combustible ice to smoothly enter human life and various sectors of society

Under the immense market demand and the drive of substantial profits, this issue has finally been resolved over the course of several years. With the maturation of deep-sea extraction technology for combustible ice, a large quantity of combustible ice is continuously extracted from the seabed and transported to various parts of the world. Human technology has made another significant leap forward, as humanity regards the development and utilization of combustible ice as the fourth industrial revolution

Little did they know, this so-called clean energy, combustible ice, has increasingly sparked controversy. In just a few years of using combustible ice, significant changes in the Earth's atmospheric composition have begun to be observed, with the emergence of an unknown gas among the atmospheric components, and the trend is becoming more severe. Experiments have revealed that the culprit behind this abnormal situation is, surprisingly, an unknown gas contained in combustible ice.

Buried in the deep-sea floor, the remains of marine plants have formed combustible ice (natural gas hydrate) over tens of thousands of years, which has been increasingly discovered in various locations around the world. The reserves are extremely vast, far exceeding those of coal and oil. Coupled with the high efficiency and cleanliness of this energy source, the development and utilization of combustible ice have gradually been elevated to one of the key energy projects pursued by various countries, leading to large-scale international technological cooperation among nations.

Although this gas is present in very small quantities, its accumulation has increased significantly with the extensive extraction and use of combustible ice. What people did not anticipate is that when this gas accumulates to a certain density, it can react with nitrogen, the most abundant gas in the atmosphere, under the influence of thunderstorms. The product of this reaction is an unknown gray gas, which is quietly and silently altering the overall composition and ecological environment of the Earth.