Evolution of isotopic compositions in groundwater of the area between the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf

The stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen have been implemented to assess the recharge mechanisms in an area in the UAE bounded to the northwestern part of the Gulf of Oman and the southeastern part of the Arabian Gulf. The conversion of stable isotopes to deuterium excess was utilized as a supportive tool to understand the process of groundwater recharge. The concluding results of this study showed that the origin of moisture is the Mediterranean Sea. The precipitation is the main source of recharge, in which the precipitation having undergone evaporation before recharge occurs. The comparison between regression line for data collected in 1996 and regression line for samples collected in 2006 suggests that the precipitation water which recharged the groundwater, was diluted with groundwater and this dilution is observed from decreasing of the deuterium excess of collected groundwater samples with increasing isotopes of oxygen. The dilution of groundwater with the recharge water suggests modern-day recharge as it is seen from high deuterium excess that exceeded the deuterium excess of LMWL and was close to MMWL.     

Iran and the continuing crisis in the Persian Gulf

Iran is attempting to return to its pre-Islamic revolution stage of regional hegemony in the Persian Gulf. During the 1980's, Iran alienated itself from both superpowers — the USA and the USSR. More recently, Iran has began a process of regaining much of its international legitimacy. This includes the adoption of a neutral stance during the Gulf War of 1991, acting as a mediator in Afghanistan and by a — so far — policy of restrained intervention in the newly independent Central Asian Moslem states of the former Soviet Union. Iran continues to see itself as a powerful Middle Eastern state which has the right to manage affairs in the Persian Gulf. This will be difficult to achieve as long as Iran is perceived as a reactionary state by the USA and European powers, in their continued support for Saudi regional interests.     

Storm surges in the Arabian Gulf

The storm surge phenomenon in the Arabian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz, is discussed with particular emphasis on the development of mathematical models for prediction purposes. The Gulf is mainly influenced by extra-tropical weather systems, whereas the region south of the Strait of Hormuz is affected by tropical cyclones. The west-to-east directed extra-tropical cyclone tracks and the generally east-to-west directed tropical cyclone tracks converge near the Strait of Hormuz. A meso-scale weather system that deserves special attention in prescribing the meteorological forcing functions is the so-called winter Shamal. A two-dimensional numerical model is developed to study the storm surges in the Arabian Gulf. The results show that the Gulf is subject to major negative and positive storm surges. Strong winds associated with the Shamal system, coupled with atmospheric pressure gradients, topography and tidal effects, can give rise to water level deviations of several meters. Storm surges observed during the period 17–19 January 1973 show that negative values in the 0.5 to 1.0m range were widespread in the Gulf.     

Coral reef recovery in Florida and the Persian Gulf

Long-term observations and study of coral reef destruction by hurricanes in the Florida Keys show, surprisingly, that although corals are devastated on a grand scale during storms, recovery is rapid. Recovery occurs because of the widespread scattering of live fragments, many of which become growth sites of new colonies. Reef recovery from death by chilling in the Persian Gulf was well under way when last observed, but it is not yet known if the recovery rate was as rapid as recovery from the storm destruction in Florida. Recovery from death by chilling requires settlement of transported coral larvae and a substrate suitable for larval attachment. Such resettlement is subject to the effects of currents, predators, pollution, and competition for substrate. A growth rate of 10 cm per year combined with geometrical progression of branch formation accounts for rapidAcropora cervicornis recovery. Although calculated coral proliferation seems unusually high, it has been confirmed by serial underwater photographs spanning ten years. More precise measurements of growth and branching are needed, along with growth data for other common reef-building corals. Such data would be useful for predicting standing crop of a restocked or transplanted reef.     

Petroleum drilling and production operations in the Gulf of Mexico

Decades of offshore and inland petroleum drilling and production in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Gulf coast have provided the much needed energy and chemical feedstocks to the nation, and also have made an impact on the environment in the area. Our study showed deposits of contaminated sediment on the ocean floor around offshore platforms, old reserve pits, and dump sites next to many surface facilities and compressor stations. The substances found on the ocean floor and in dump sites are simple or emulsified mixtures of silt, hydrocarbons, and water. The cleaning of the ocean floor and pits is an economic and technical challenge. Hydrocarbons are from crude oil and chemical additions for various operational necessities, including additions of biocides, corrosion inhibitors, antifreezes, and coagulants. When the new government regulations lower the allowable maximum total organic carbon level to the 50 ppm range, these hydrocarbons can no longer be ignored by drilling and production operators.     

渤海湾地区中生代构造活动与沉积作用

通过研究渤海湾及周边地区中生代南部典型露头剖面的沉积特征及中部岩相古地理特征,认为中生代渤海湾地区由一系列受到断层严格控制的断陷盆地组成,主要发育冲积扇-河流-湖泊沉积体系,湖泊内部包括滨浅湖、滩坝和半深湖等亚相;经历了由冲积扇-河流沉积体系向上演化为湖泊沉积体系,再逐渐演化为冲积扇-河流沉积体系的过程;欧亚构造域的西伯利亚板块、扬子板块与华北板块的挤压拼接在渤海湾地区侏罗纪盆地充填中起到主要的控制作用;郯庐断裂的左行走滑在渤海湾地区白垩纪盆地充填中起到主要的控制作用。     

Oil exploration in the Southern Gulf of Mexico and the Chicxulub impact

Discovery of the Chicxulub multi-ring impact crater came as a result of oil exploration surveys in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Subsequent studies on the Chicxulub impact and the Cretaceous/Palaeogene (K/Pg) boundary have revealed links between the impact and hydrocarbons, with implications for the K/Pg global environmental and climatic effects, as well as for oil exploration in the Gulf.     

How severely was the Persian Gulf affected by oil spills following the 1991 Gulf War?

Ostracods from 14 surface sediment samples taken from the northwest part of the Persian Gulf (Iranian side) at water depths of 32-54 m were studied to evaluate the environmental pollution caused by oil spills following the 1991 Gulf War. With the exception of two live ostracods, which show no response to the contamination, at least 58 closed carapaces from 18 taxa of herbivorous and sediment-feeding species were found containing dark brown oil. All contaminated specimens were restricted to the uppermost part of the sediments (0.0-0.5 cm). The extent of the impact and the number of affected species varies within the samples. The most heavily contaminated ostracods were encountered in samples 1, 3, 14, 21 and 26 in which 3-5% of the complete carapaces contain oil residues. Compared to a previous sampling in 1965, seven additional ostracod species occur in the modern Persian Gulf. This indicates an intact environmental state prior to the Gulf War.     

Sandstone diagenesis in the Pattani Basin (Gulf of Thailand): history of water-rock interaction and comparison with the Gulf of Mexico

In the Pattani Basin, a failed-rift basin, extensive water-rock interaction has occurred between subquartzose alluvial sandstones of Miocene age and their pore fluids. Diagenetic rates and pathways have been strongly influenced by high geothermal gradients, high CO₂ fugacities, and low pore water salinities. Depositional pore water was fresh to brackish, depending on the depositional environment of the sediments. Chloride concentrations in modern formation water are believed primarily to reflect the proportions of river and sea water in the depositional environment. However, the concentration of other important solutes and the isotopic composition of the formation waters can not be explained by roportional mixing of these two end-member waters. Dissolution of detrital plagioclase (An = 3) and K- feldspar are reactions of major significance that are reflected chemically in the Na/Cl and K/Cl ratios of the formation water. Despite the high temperature of the sandstones (120–200°C), diagenetic albite does not occur. Geochemical calculations indicate the formation water is undersaturated with respect to both orthoclase and albite. This style of feldspar diagenesis differs significantly from that of sandstones of similar composition in other basins, and has probably influenced other aspects of silicate diagenesis.Important authigenic minerals are: 1. locally abundant calcite cement (δ¹³C= −12.8, δ¹⁸O= −17.3 PDB), an early diagenetic phase that formed at about 60°C; 2. pore-filling kaolinite (δ¹⁸O= 9.9, δD= −83.5SMOW) that was closely associated with feldspar dissolution and formed over a range of temperatures; and 3. fibrous pore-lining and pore-bridging illite (δ¹⁸O = 9.8, δD = − 86.7 SMOW, the last significant cement, formed at temperatures of 120 to 150°C. Potassium/argon dates on illite indicate that sandstone diagenesis took place during a period of rapid sedimentation in the first two-thirds of the burial history.Comparison of Pattani Basin diagenesis with diagenesis of sandstones of similar age in other sedimentary basins demonstrates that chemical diagenesis, relative to mechanical compaction, has been especially rapid in the Pattani Basin. This reflects the effect of high temperatures on reaction rates. The net effect is a high average rate of porosity loss with burial (11% km).     

Geopolitics and politics in the Arab Gulf States (GCC)

The Geopolitics of the Arab Gulf region stems out of its geographic location on world important crossroads, and is dominated by its oil wealth which is sought after world-wide. Strategically, the Gulf is in the friction zone of world power. It is also located in the shatter zone of regional power, that is, Arabia, Persia, and India. Active membership in a non-aligned organization represents the official framework of Gulf politics, i.e., the Arab League, Islamic Congress, and the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** ABI02027 00002     

Quantifying initial and wind forcing uncertainties in the Gulf of Mexico

This study aims at analyzing the combined impact of uncertainties in initial conditions and wind forcing fields in ocean general circulation models (OGCM) using polynomial chaos (PC) expansions. Empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) are used to formulate both spatial perturbations to initial conditions and space-time wind forcing perturbations, namely in the form of a superposition of modal components with uniformly distributed random amplitudes. The forward deterministic HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) is used to propagate input uncertainties in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) in spring 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and to generate the ensemble of model realizations based on which PC surrogate models are constructed for both localized and field quantities of interest (QoIs), focusing specifically on sea surface height (SSH) and mixed layer depth (MLD). These PC surrogate models are constructed using basis pursuit denoising methodology, and their performance is assessed through various statistical measures. A global sensitivity analysis is then performed to quantify the impact of individual modes as well as their interactions. It shows that the local SSH at the edge of the GoM main current—the Loop Current—is mostly sensitive to perturbations of the initial conditions affecting the current front, whereas the local MLD in the area of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is more sensitive to wind forcing perturbations. At the basin scale, the SSH in the deep GoM is mostly sensitive to initial condition perturbations, while over the shelf it is sensitive to wind forcing perturbations. On the other hand, the basin MLD is almost exclusively sensitive to wind perturbations. For both quantities, the two sources of uncertainty have limited interactions. Finally, the computations indicate that whereas local quantities can exhibit complex behavior that necessitates a large number of realizations, the modal analysis of field sensitivities can be suitably achieved with a moderate size ensemble.     

Diagenesis of Holocene beachrocks: a comparative study between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Aqaba,Saudi Arabia

Beachrocks occur in present-day intertidal zones of the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Aqaba, on the eastern and northwestern coasts, respectively, of Saudi Arabia. The beachrocks occur as linear patches within beach deposits, which have variable grain size and detrital compositions. The Arabian Gulf beachrocks are composed of sand-sized bioclasts and siliciclastic grains, whereas the Gulf of Aqaba beachrocks are composed of sand- to pebble-size grains, which are dominated by igneous rock fragments and small amounts of skeletal carbonate grains. The cement includes micritic high-magnesian calcite and isopachous acicular/bladed aragonite. In addition to cements, intergranular pores are locally filled by a lime–mud matrix. Radiocarbon dating of beachrock samples from the Arabian Gulf yielded ages from ca. 655 to 2185 year bp, whereas the Gulf of Aqaba samples range in age between 2745 and 5075 year bp.     

Summer Movements of the Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis) in a Northern Gulf of Mexico Salt Marsh

The Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis) is one of the most abundant nekton species in the US Gulf of Mexico (GOM) salt marshes, providing an important trophic link in these systems. Recently, the use of F. grandis as an indicator species of salt marsh health in the region has been suggested because its Atlantic coast congener, the Mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) has filled such a role due to its demonstrated high site fidelity and small-scale movements. Given the similar life histories between species, F. grandis was assumed to exhibit the same type of small-scale movements, although this has not been documented. During summer 2013, we collected and marked 1,719 fish from a northern Gulf of Mexico estuary, recapturing 959 (56 % recapture rate). Of these recaptured fish, only 31 moved from their original tagging location, and of these, 29 moved only 100 m between sites connected by salt marsh. Based on these results, F. grandis appears to exhibit high site fidelity and make only small-scale movements, similar to F. heteroclitus, supporting its role as an indicator species.     

泰国湾第四纪准层序建造及气候控制的旋回性

泰国湾第四系显示出很好的旋回性。通过高分辨率二维地震(布玛)剖面图及工程钻井资料,共识别出8个准层序。在典型准层序中,沉积物自下而上,从海相泥沉积逐渐过渡为泛滥平原沉积。在每个准层序顶部都发育下切河体系及古土壤层,说明在每个准层序形成之后,都曾暴露过地表并遭受到侵蚀。每个准层序都代表一个海进和海退的过程。这些准层序的厚度为6～22m不等,平均厚度13m左右。通过与第四纪氧同位素曲线对比得出,这8个旋回的形成年代可追溯到距今730～10ka,平均91ka为一个循环周期,表明这些旋回应该是由气候因素所驱使的海平面升降导致的。该频率的气候变化周期相当于Milankovitch旋回中地球围绕太阳运动椭球体偏心率的变化周期,因此,在更早的地质历史时期中,类似的旋回也应该存在,并具有全球可对比性。     

Seismicity and seismotectonics of the Gulf of Aqaba region

The historical seismicity of the last ten centuries and the instrumental data that occurred in the Gulf of Aqaba region during the period 1982–2008 are evaluated. It is found that 12 historical earthquakes have occurred with average recurrence periods 70–90 and 333–500 years for M?≥?6.0 and 7.0, respectively. Those with M?≤?6.5 appear to be incomplete and require further investigation. More than 98 % of the instrumental data has occurred in the form of swarms and sequences. The first have released about 32 % of the total energy and are most likely related to subsurface volcanic activities. Their epicentral distribution indicates that all regional faults of the gulf area are active in the present, but with clear concentration within the area bound by latitudes 28.2°–29.8° and longitudes 34.4°–35.2°. Regional strike-slip faults of the northern two basins appear to be as twice active as the normal, or more. An appreciable level of seismic hazard is envisaged as the “a” value is 6.0–6.2 while the “b” value shows a temporal variation, mostly in the range 0.8–1.05. More than 95 % of the seismic energy was released from earthquakes shallower than 22 km. This indicates a brittle upper crust and a ductile lower crust and upper mantle. Tectonic movements at depths?>?22 km appear to be aseismic. The epicentral distribution of the five swarms indicates that the lengths of the causative faults varied in the range 45–70 km. The maximum expected magnitude is Mw?=?6.8–7.2. This implies a seismic slip rate of about 0.54–0.8 Cm/year and some 20–30 % of aseismic tectonic movements. This and the sequence nature of the seismicity of this region result in a noticeable hazard reduction. Combining the seismicity data of the Gulf of Aqaba region with other geophysical, geological, tectonic, and environmental data, clearly indicate that the seismicity of this region is as old as the initiation of the gulf itself. No apparent southward or northward migration of activity is observed.     

Contaminants in sediments from the central Gulf of Mexico

Surface sediment samples at 89 locations and 300-cm cores from 43 sites in the Mississippi Sound were examined for evidence of pollutant impact upon this coastal environment. Chemical variables determined were total organic carbon, Kjeldahl nitrogen, phenols, and hydrocarbons. Values of these pollutant indicators were about the same or lower in Gulf of Mexico samples compared to Missippi Sound sediments and considerably lower than those from rivers and bays emptying into the sound, indicating limited impact from sites of pollutant sources into the sound. Concentrations of sedimentary pollutants peaked in the Pascagoula River where levels of total organic carbon (TOC), Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), phenols, and hydrocarbons exceeded sound values by one to three orders of magnitude. Analysis of cores shows pollutant intrusion to sediment strata predating industrial development. The level of pollution varies from site to site but fortunately is only serious at localized sites within the sound.     

Mud volcano gas hydrates in the Gulf of Cadiz

ABSTRACT This paper presents new geochemical data on gas-hydrate-bearing mud volcanoes discovered for the first time in the Gulf of Cadiz during cruises TTR9 and TTR10 of the R/V Professor Logachev in 1999–2000. The estimated gas hydrate content is 3–16% of sediment volume and 5–31% of pore space volume. Estimated values of the water isotopic composition for the Ginsburg mud volcano are very heavy for δ¹⁸O (up to +53‰) and light for δD (up to − 210‰). Gas released from the hydrates contains 81% of C₁ and 19% of C₂₊. The inferred source of the gas in the hydrates is enriched in C₂–C₆ (≤ 5%), indicating that the gas has a thermogenic origin. Gas hydrate of cubic structure II should be formed from a gas of such composition. It is interpreted that the composition of the mud volcano fluid corresponds to deep oil basins below the Gulf of Cadiz.     

Simulation of the movement and dispersion of oil slicks in the Arabian Gulf

The extensive oil drilling and transportation activities in the Arabian Gulf increased the possibility of oil spills and the consequent threat of oil pollution to the regional ecology. The available literature concerning the main aspects of the physical oceanographic characteristics affecting the movement and spreading of oil spill in the Gulf are reviewed. It is concluded that evaporation, wind-driven currents, and sandfall are important as weathering processes, while tidal currents cause lateral spreading of the slick. Oil spill modelling has shown some usefulness in estimating the trajectories of few major spills illustrated by reference to three models developed for the Gulf. The performance of these models, their capabilities and limitations are reviewed. Recommendations are made to gather more data on the behavior of oil spills in this particular environment.     

Oxygen Consumption in Permeable and Cohesive Sediments of the Gulf of Aqaba

Oxygen profiles were measured in the sediments of the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), an oligotrophic marine system affected by episodic seasonal flash floods and intense aeolian dry deposition. Sediment cores were retrieved from shallow (15–45 m), intermediate (250–561 m) and deep (700 m) water sites of south–north and east–west transects. Dissolved oxygen concentrations were measured simultaneously by using microelectrodes and microoptodes immediately after sampling and after transportation. Oxygen penetration depths were found to increase from 2 to 5 mm at the shallow water sites with sandy permeable sediments to 10–21 mm at the deeper sites with cohesive muddy sediments. This increase corresponds to decrease in oxygen diffusive fluxes at the sediment–water interface and oxygen consumption rates with depth. Oxygen consumption rates exhibit local maxima at the oxic–anoxic sediment boundary, which may be attributed to oxygen reduction coupled to oxidation of dissolved Fe(II) and Mn(II) at deep and intermediate water sites and of hydrogen sulfide at shallow water sites. Microelectrodes and microoptodes measurements of cohesive sediments from deep and intermediate water sites yielded similar results. By comparison, the microoptodes displayed more robust measurements than microelectrodes in sandy near-shore sediments. This was attributed to their flexible fiber structure that is less likely to break or to abruptly displace sand particles. After transportation of sediment cores from Eilat to Beer Sheva followed by ≤?24-h storage, no changes in oxygen fluxes and consumption rates were detected.