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Methane produced in subseafloor environments is transported to the seafloor and discharged into seawater at cold seeps, mud volcanoes, and hydrothermal vents. The discharged methane and accompanying fluids form unique environments, such as methane hydrates and carbonates, and sustain chemosynthetic ecosystems at the seafloor and in the shallow subseafloor. Methane and the methane-driven phenomena are closely related to the ocean and global environmental changes, material cycles, and evolution of life, making them a key for better understanding of the interactions among Geosphere-Hydrosphere-Biospheres. Deepening and expanding our knowledge of these processes will also contribute to the sustainable development of human society, including resource utilization, disaster prevention, and biodiversity and ecosystem conservation. This session welcomes latest research topics related to the geophysical background, resources, geobiology, and geochemical origin of methane and accompanying fluids at marine and terrestrial cold seeps, mud volcanoes, and hydrothermal vents from the past to present.
     This session aims to promote intergenerational exchange and to expand and  strengthen domestic communities through lively discussion. Oral presentations in this session are given in Japanese or English. English notation for all figures and tables is required for all of slides and posters.