Microbially mediated methane and sulfur cycling in pockmark sediments of the Gdansk Basin, Baltic Sea

In the Russian sector of the Gdansk Basin (Baltic Sea), high organic matter influx fuels microbial processes resulting in the formation of reduced sediments with elevated methane concentrations. Investigated areas of geoacoustic anomalies (～245 km²) were found to contain three distinct geomorphologic structures (pockmarks), with a total area of ～1 km². Methane anomalies recorded in the water above one of these pockmarks were traced as high as 10 m above the bottom. In pockmark sediments, sulfate reduction and anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) occurred at high rates of 33 and 50 µmol dm^?3 day^?1, respectively. Integrated over 0–180 cm sediment depths, AOM exceeded methanogenesis almost tenfold. High AOM rates resulted from methane influx from deeper sediment layers. The δ¹³C signature of methane carbon (?78.1 to ?71.1‰) indicates the biogenic origin of pockmark methane. In pockmark sediments, up to 70% of reduced sulfur compounds was possibly produced via AOM.     

Tracking stormwater discharge plumes and water quality of the Tijuana River with multispectral aerial imagery

Spatial–temporal characteristics and environmental factors regulating the behavior of stormwater runoff from the Tijuana River in southern California were analyzed utilizing very high resolution aerial imagery, and time-coincident environmental and bacterial sampling data. Thirty nine multispectral aerial images with 2.1-m spatial resolution were collected after major rainstorms during 2003–2008. Utilizing differences in color reflectance characteristics, the ocean surface was classified into non-plume waters and three components of the runoff plume reflecting differences in age and suspended sediment concentrations. Tijuana River discharge rate was the primary factor regulating the size of the freshest plume component and its shorelong extensions to the north and south. Wave direction was found to affect the shorelong distribution of the shoreline-connected fresh plume components much more strongly than wind direction. Wave-driven sediment resuspension also significantly contributed to the size of the oldest plume component. Surf zone bacterial samples collected near the time of each image acquisition were used to evaluate the contamination characteristics of each plume component. The bacterial contamination of the freshest plume waters was very high (100% of surf zone samples exceeded California standards), but the oldest plume areas were heterogeneous, including both polluted and clean waters. The aerial imagery archive allowed study of river runoff characteristics on a plume component level, not previously done with coarser satellite images. Our findings suggest that high resolution imaging can quickly identify the spatial extents of the most polluted runoff but cannot be relied upon to always identify the entire polluted area. Our results also indicate that wave-driven transport is important in distributing the most contaminated plume areas along the shoreline.     

Implementation and integrated numerical modeling of a landslide early warning system: a pilot study in Colombia

Landslide early warning systems (EWS) are an important tool to reduce landslide risks, especially where the potential for structural protection measures is limited. However, design, implementation, and successful operation of a landslide EWS is complex and has not been achieved in many cases. Critical problems are uncertainties related to landslide triggering conditions, successful implementation of emergency protocols, and the response of the local population. We describe here the recent implementation of a landslide EWS for the Combeima valley in Colombia, a region particularly affected by landslide hazards. As in many other cases, an insufficient basis of data (rainfall, soil measurements, landslide event record) and related uncertainties represent a difficult complication. To be able to better assess the influence of the different EWS components, we developed a numerical model that simulates the EWS in a simplified yet integrated way. The results show that the expected landslide-induced losses depend nearly exponentially on the errors in precipitation measurements. Stochastic optimization furthermore suggests an increasing adjustment of the rainfall landslide-triggering threshold for an increasing observation error. These modeling studies are a first step toward a more generic and integrated approach that bears important potential for substantial improvements in design and operation of a landslide EWS.     

Geophysical-geochemical investigation of fire-prone landfills

This paper deals with the integration of electrical resistivity tomography and geochemical methods for studying four different fire-prone landfills. Landfill gas composition (CH₄, H₂S, O₂, CO, CO₂) and subsurface temperature were measured with the constant net 50 × 50 m from the depth 10–60 cm. 28 electrical resistivity tomography lines were surveyed, while Wenner and Sclumberger electrode arrays were employed for all measurements. At the studied sites the landfill gas and temperature measurements mapped gas and temperature anomalies over underground fire sources. 2D electrical resistivity tomography lines, performed over these anomalies, showed these fire sources as high-resistivity zones. The joint employment of the electrical imaging and geochemical survey seems to be a useful tool in carrying out diagnostic investigations at fire-prone landfills.     

A simple predictive model of quartz solubility in water-salt-CO2 systems at temperatures up to 1000 °C and pressures up to 1000 MPa

Knowledge of the solubility of quartz over a broad spectrum of aqueous fluid compositions and T-P conditions is essential to our understanding of water-rock interaction in the Earth’s crust. We propose an equation to compute the molality of aqueous silica, m_SiO2(aq), mol·(kg H₂O)⁻¹, in equilibrium with quartz and water-salt-CO₂ fluids, as follows:

     

Application of color infrared aerial photography to assess macroalgal distribution in an eutrophic estuary,Upper Newport Bay,California

Newport Bay is a large estuary in southern California that is subject to anthropogenic nutrient loading, eutrophication, and hypoxia. Ground-based methods of assessing algal extent for monitoring and management are limited in that they cannot provide a synoptic view of algal distribution over comparatively large areas. The goal of this study was to explore the application of color infrared aerial photography as an alternative for analyzing the changes in the abundance of exposed macroalgae. Three surveys combining remote sensing (color infrared aerial photography) and ground-based sampling to quantify macroalgal mat coverage were carried out in Upper Newport Bay (UNB) between July and October 2005. Airborne photographs (scale 1:6000) collected during daytime low tides, clear skies, and appropriate sun angle were digitized to 25-cm resolution, orthorectified, georegistered, and combined into three mosaic composite digital images: one for each survey. During each aerial photography survey, macroalgal percent cover was measured on the ground by the pointintercept method in a 6.25-m² area at ca. 30 locations distributed along the water’s edge throughout the intertidal mudflat area. There were three main types of cover:Ulva spp. (green algae),Ceranrium spp. (red algae), and bare surface (mud and mussel beds). To analyze similarities between spectral signatures in the images and cover types, the pixels corresponding to the ground samples from each survey were grouped into clusters based on similarity of their spectral signatures. To establish relationships between spectral signatures in the images and cover as determined from ground data, pixels in each composite image corresponding to ground samples from the same day that were characterized by > 90% of one cover type were attributed to that cover type. Ground samples comprised of a mixture of cover types were used for accuracy assessment. Before classification, each digital image was transformed by the Minimum Noise Fraction Rotation method to remove noise and enhance contrast between the classes. For classification of each composite image, the Spectral Angle Mapper scheme was used: all pixels in each image were attributed to the identified classes and the areal extent of each class was estimated. According to these assessments, the macroalgal coverage in UNB increased from 37% in July to 57% in September to 80% in October, and during this timeUlva spp. replacedCeramium spp. as the dominant alga. This analysis showed that color infrared aerial photography is an effective tool for assessing estuarine, intertidal macroalgal coverage.     

Cs baseline levels in the Mediterranean and Black Sea: A cross-basin survey of the CIESM Mediterranean Mussel Watch programme

The common mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis was selected as unique biomonitor species to implement a regional monitoring programme, the CIESM Mediterranean Mussel Watch (MMW), in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. As of today, and upon standardization of the methodological approach, the MMW Network has been able to quantify ¹³⁷Cs levels in mussels from 60 coastal stations and to produce the first distribution map of this artificial radionuclide at the scale of the entire Mediterranean and Black Seas. While measured ¹³⁷Cs levels were found to be very low (usually <1 Bq kg⁻¹ wet wt) ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in the Black Sea and North Aegean Sea were up to two orders of magnitude higher than those in the western Mediterranean Basin. Such effects, far from representing a threat to human populations or the environment, reflect a persistent signature of the Chernobyl fallout in this area.     

Properties of adjoint sea ice sensitivities to atmospheric forcing and implications for the causes of the long term trend of Arctic sea ice

Based on adjoint sensitivities of the coupled Massachusetts Institute of Technology ocean–sea ice circulation model, the potential influence of thermodynamic atmospheric forcing on the interannual variability of the September sea ice area (AREA) and volume (VOLUME) in the Arctic is investigated for the three periods 1980–1989, 1990–1999 and 2000–2009. Sensitivities suggest that only large forcing anomalies prior to the spring melting onset in May can influence the September sea ice characteristics while even small changes in the atmospheric variables during subsequent months can significantly influence September sea ice state. Specifically, AREA close to the ice edge in the Arctic seas is highly sensitive to thermodynamic atmospheric forcing changes from June to July. In contrast, VOLUME is highly sensitive to atmospheric temperature changes occurring during the same period over the central parts of the Arctic Ocean. A comparison of the sea ice conditions and sensitivities during three different periods reveals that, due to the strong decline of sea ice concentration and sea ice thickness, sea ice area became substantially more sensitive to the same amplitude thermodynamic atmospheric forcing anomalies during 2000–2009 relative to the earlier periods. To obtain a quantitative estimate of changes that can be expected from existing atmospheric trends, adjoint sensitivities are multiplied by monthly temperature differences between 1980s and two following decades. Strongest contributions of surface atmospheric temperature differences to AREA and VOLUME changes are observed during May and September. The strongest contribution from the downward long-wave heat flux to AREA changes occurs in September and to VOLUME changes in July–August. About 62 % of the AREA decrease simulated by the model can be explained by summing all contributions to the thermodynamic atmospheric forcing. The changing sea ice state (sensitivity) is found to enhance the decline and accounts for about one third of the explained reduction. For the VOLUME decrease, the explained fraction of the decrease is only about 37 %.     

中国及境外天山铅锌成矿作用与找矿方向

中国及境外天山铅锌矿床多有发现,如哈萨克斯坦Tekeli、Shalkiya和Achisai,乌兹别克斯坦Kurgashinkan和Uchkulach,塔吉克斯坦Altyntopkan,中国新疆乌拉根、彩霞山、阿齐山、阿尔恰勒等大型—超大型铅锌矿床,构成了天山巨型铅锌成矿带。这些铅锌矿床形成于怎样的地球动力学背景?铅锌成矿的基本地质特征是什么?有哪些重要成矿类型?受何要素控制?未来找矿突破方向在哪里?这些都是颇受关注的地质找矿问题。在广泛矿产地质调查和综合分析前人研究成果的基础上,将中国及境外天山作为整体,综述了天山造山带构造演化和重要铅锌成矿环境、典型矿床特征与成矿系统/成矿类型,总结了天山地区铅锌成矿演化过程,并分析了区域铅锌成矿特点与找矿突破方向。结果表明:天山造山带经历了前寒武纪古陆形成、洋-陆俯冲增生、陆-陆碰撞造山和陆内成盆4个地球动力学过程,先后出现了元古宙古陆边缘裂陷盆地、古生代洋-陆俯冲增生岛弧、晚古生代陆-陆碰撞造山与中—新生代山前/山间盆地4类重要铅锌成矿环境。在元古宙古陆边缘裂陷盆地环境,主要受同生断层、还原性细碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩建造等控制,形成了古陆边缘裂陷盆地铅锌成矿系统与SEDEX型铅锌矿床;在古生代洋-陆俯冲增生岛弧环境,主要受弧岩浆活动、断裂构造、地层等控制,形成了增生岛弧铅锌成矿系统与矽卡岩型、斑岩型、岩浆热液脉型、VMS型铅锌矿床;在晚古生代陆-陆碰撞造山环境,主要受被动陆缘海相碳酸盐岩、张性开放空间、逆冲推覆构造等控制,形成了碰撞造山铅锌成矿系统与MVT型铅锌矿床;在中—新生代山前/山间盆地环境,主要受盆地三元结构、油气运移与红层“漂白”、硫酸盐岩等控制,形成了山前/山间盆地铅锌成矿系统与砂岩型铅锌矿床。由此可见,天山地区存在多种铅锌成矿环境和不同铅锌成矿系统与成矿类型,其铅锌成矿表现出长时间、多期次、多类型叠合成矿和一定继承性的演化特点。尽管沉积岩容矿铅锌矿床(包括SEDEX型、MVT型和砂岩型)在全球铅锌矿产资源中占据主导地位,而在天山地区增生岛弧铅锌成矿系统则占有更为重要的地位,特别是北天山岛弧带,哈萨克斯坦—伊犁板块南、北缘和中天山地块应该给予高度重视。与此同时,哈萨克斯坦—伊犁板块北缘与东天山中天山地块元古界SEDEX型铅锌找矿、境外中天山地块北缘与南天山造山带古生代被动陆缘碳酸盐岩地层MVT型铅锌找矿、新疆西南天山山前/山间盆地砂岩型铅锌找矿前景良好,也仍值得持续关注。     

Structure and modeling of disorder in miserite from the Murun (Russia) and Dara-i-Pioz (Tajikistan) massifs

The structure, structural disorder and chemistry of miserite from the charoite-bearing rocks of the Murun massif (Russia) and from alkaline-syenite pegmatitic rocks of the Dara-i-Pioz massif (Tajikistan) were investigated employing a combination of electron microprobe, single crystal diffraction and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Chemical analysis of the sample investigated by X-ray diffraction evidenced that Dara-i-Pioz miserite has a greater REE concentration than Murun miserite (~0.22 vs. 0.05 apfu, respectively) and also contains Y (0.14 apfu), which is absent in Murun miserite. The occurrence of a band at about 1,600 cm^?1 testified to the presence of H₂O in miserite at hand. Structural analyses yielded average cell parameters of a = 10.092, b = 16.016, c = 7.356 Å, α = 96.60°, β = 111.27° and γ = 76.34°. Anisotropic structural refinement in space group P $\bar{1}$ converged at similar values for the analyzed samples (R ~3.4, R _w ~3.8 %). An interesting feature shown by both the miserite specimen is the presence, revealed by difference Fourier analysis, of a disordered part of the structure. This turned out to be due to the flipping of the tetrahedra belonging to the isolated [Si₂O₇]^6? diorthogroups, one of the two radicals (the other is [Si₁₂O₃₀]^12?) characterizing the miserite structure. The sixfold and seven-vertex Ca polyhedra linked to the inverted diorthogroups show variation in coordination number with respect to those of the ordered structure.