Vertical Fluxes of Suspended Sedimentary Matter in Arctic Sedimentogenesis of Intracontinental Seas

Doklady Earth Sciences - Based on long-term studies of a small sea in the Arctic Ocean, new regularities in the sedimentary process under the conditions of Arctic sedimentogenesis were established....     

Organic matter in present-day ecosystems of the Arctic Ocean

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Seasonal Variability of Vertical Fluxes of Dispersed Sedimentary Matter in the Black Sea

Doklady Earth Sciences - The main aim of this work is to obtain new data on the seasonal variability of the vertical flux of sedimentary matter, its composition, and its transformation during...     

陆架边缘海环境下金属元素与有机质富集关系探讨

陆架边缘海是“河口—陆架”体系重要的碳汇,黏土矿物作为主要载体将有机质与金属元素吸附于表面或层间,通常表现为粒度、有机质和金属元素含量之间高度正相关。本文通过分析南黄海中部沉积物粒度、总有机碳、主微量元素,探讨三者之间分布特征和相互关系,进一步开展金属元素、有机质与黏土矿物吸附模拟实验,结果表明,酸性条件（pH=4）下适量的金属离子（Zn2+、Ni2+、Pb2+）明显促进伊利石对腐殖酸（有机质主要组成部分）吸附,腐殖酸吸附量达到20.06 mg/g,其中金属离子加入使腐殖酸吸附量提高6.25%;同时碱性条件（pH=8）下金属离子也能够促进伊利石对腐殖酸吸附,腐殖酸吸附量达到15.7 mg/g,金属离子加入使腐殖酸吸附量提高38.9%。金属离子的阳离子键桥作用促进伊利石吸附腐殖酸,且酸性环境下腐殖酸的吸附量高于碱性环境。证实了陆架边缘海背下金属元素的参与对黏土矿物吸附腐殖酸具有明显促进作用,有利于在全球碳循环过程形成边缘海“碳库”,同时海洋酸化可能造成海洋溶解有机质降低和重金属离子浓度升高,对陆架边缘海海洋生态系统平衡构成威胁。     

Characterization of Aquatic Dissolved Organic Matter by Spectral Analysis： From Watershed to Deep Ocean

Since 1990s， spectral analysis has become an important technique to characterize the properties of chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter （CDOM and FDOM） from various aquatic systems and a series of spectral indices have been suggested to trace the sources of DOM and their biogeochemical regulation processes. DOM samples were collected from an aquatic continuum from watershed to deep ocean， i.e. Zhangjiang River and Estuary， Dongshan Bay， Taiwan Strait， Northeast basin of the South China Sea， Luzon Strait and the vertical profile of the Kuroshio region of the West Pacific Ocean. This continuum covered many critical interfaces （land-ocean， shelf-basin， marginal sea basin-open ocean and euphotic and aphotic layer）. The spatial distribution and variation of various qualitative and quantitative parameters along the continuum were clearly revealed. Combined with literature review， the sources and sinks of CDOM/FDOM and their inherent regulation processes under significant hydrological and biogeochemical gradient variation were systematically summarized. The geochemical differentiation of the quantitative DOM spectral index in various aquatic systems was discussed. The tracing ability of the qualitative DOM spectral index was commented. The coupling study of soil-river organic matter systems， mechanism of mineralization-related microbial production of CDOM/FDOM， quantified geochemical framework concept and perturbation of global change on CDOM/FDOM dynamics were suggested as future key topics.     

Composition and characteristics of the ferromanganese crusts from the western Arctic Ocean

Layered ferromanganese crusts collected by dredge from a water depth range of 2770 to 2200 m on Mendeleev Ridge, Arctic Ocean, were analyzed for mineralogical and chemical compositions and dated using the excess ²³⁰Th technique. Comparison with crusts from other oceans reveals that Fe-Mn deposits of Mendeleev Ridge have the highest Fe/Mn ratios, are depleted in Mn, Co, and Ni, and enriched in Si and Al as well as some minor elements, Li, Th, Sc, As and V. However, the upper layer of the crusts shows Mn, Co, and Ni contents comparable to crusts from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Growth rates vary from 3.03 to 3.97 mm/Myr measured on the uppermost 2 mm. Mn and Fe oxyhydroxides (vernadite, ferroxyhyte, birnessite, todorokite and goethite) and nonmetalliferous detrital minerals characterize the Arctic crusts. Temporal changes in crust composition reflect changes in the depositional environment. Crust formation was dominated by three main processes: precipitation of Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides from ambient ocean water, sorption of metals by those Fe and Mn phases, and fluctuating but large inputs of terrigenous debris.     

Glacial Lake Vitim, a 3000-km outburst flood from Siberia to the Arctic Ocean

A prominent lake formed when glaciers descending from the Kodar Range blocked the River Vitim in central Transbaikalia, Siberia. Glacial Lake Vitim, evidenced by palaeoshorelines and deltas, covered 23,500 km² and held a volume of ~ 3000 km³. We infer that a large canyon in the area of the postulated ice dam served as a spillway during an outburst flood that drained through the rivers Vitim and Lena into the Arctic Ocean. The inferred outburst flood, of a magnitude comparable to the largest known floods on Earth, possibly explains a freshwater spike at ~ 13 cal ka BP inferred from Arctic Ocean sediments.     

Freshwater chlorophycean algae in recent marine sediments of the Beaufort, Laptev and Kara Seas (Arctic Ocean) as indicators of river runoff

Freshwater chlorophycean algae are characteristic organic-walled microfossils in recent coastal and shelf sediments from the Beaufort, Laptev and Kara seas (Arctic Ocean). The persistent occurrence of the chlorophycean algae Pediastrum spp. and Botryococcus cf. braunii in marine palynomorph assemblages is related to the discharge of freshwater and suspended matter from the large Siberian and North American rivers into the Arctic shelf seas. The distribution patterns of these algae in the marine environments reflect the predominant deposition of riverine sediments and organic matter along the salinity gradient from the outer estuaries and prodeltas to the shelf break. Sedimentary processes overprint the primary distribution of these algae. Resuspension of sediments by waves and bottom currents may transport sediments in the bottom nepheloid layer along the submarine channels to the shelf break. Bottom sediments and microfossils may be incorporated into sea ice during freeze-up in autumn and winter leading to an export from the shelves into the deep sea. The presence of these freshwater algae in sea-ice and bottom sediments in the central Arctic Ocean confirm that transport in sea ice is an important process which leads to a redistribution of shallow water microfossils.     

Bacteriohopanepolyol biomarker composition of organic matter exported to the Arctic Ocean by seven of the major Arctic rivers

Bacteriohopanepolyols (BHPs) are a diverse group of membrane lipids produced by a wide variety of bacteria and can be used as molecular biomarkers for bacterial processes and populations in both modern and ancient environments. A group of BHPs, including adenosylhopane and structurally related compounds, have been identified as being specific to soils, enabling the transport of terrestrial organic matter (terrOM) to the marine realm to be monitored. Estuary surface sediment samples were obtained from the five Great Russian Arctic Rivers (GRARs; Ob, Yenisey, Lena, Indigirka and Kolyma) and river sediments were obtained from two North American Rivers (Yukon and Mackenzie). Analysis of the BHP signatures, using high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MSⁿ), indicated the presence of 15 different BHPs originating from a variety of different bacteria, as well as a significant presence of terrestrially derived OM. Total BHP abundance and the contribution of the “soil-marker” BHPs to the total BHP pool increased eastwards among the GRAR sediments. This suggests increasing terrestrial OM or increased preservation of OM as a result of shorter periods of permafrost thawing. The North American rivers showed greatly differing BHP levels between the Yukon and Mackenzie rivers, with a greater BHP input and thus a relatively higher soil OM contribution from the Yukon. The Indigirka River basin in the eastern Siberian Arctic appeared to be the epicentre in the pan-Arctic BHP distribution trend, with the highest “soil-marker” BHPs but the lowest tetrafunctionalised BHPs. Aminobacteriohopanepentol, an indicator of aerobic methane oxidation, was observed in all the sediments, with the source being either the marine environment or methane producing terrestrial environments.     

Input of Nutritionally Rich Organic Matter from the Mississippi River to the Louisiana Coastal Zone

Isotopes have often been used to discern riverine subsidies to coastal food chains, but there are few direct measurements of nutritional quality of riverine particulates. We tested for nutritionally enriched organic matter in the Mississippi River suspended sediment and evidence for its delivery to Louisiana coastal sediments by measuring enzymatically hydrolysable amino acids (EHAA). Riverine suspended sediments contained EHAA concentrations of up to 5 mg g^?1, higher than reported in any coastal sediment. Pigment concentrations indicated that EHAA in some river samples were dominated by phytoplankton, but many samples contained significant non-algal EHAA. Coastal sediments showed EHAA concentrations lower than riverine sediments but still higher than most reported shelf values. Incubation of riverine sediment showed losses of 28–34% of their EHAA over 6 days, similar to differences found between riverine and coastal sediments. EHAA concentrations decreased more rapidly than total nitrogen, indicating the relative lability of this pool of material in the studied region. These EHAA-enriched materials provide fuel for various coastal biota whose composition likely depends on factors such as disturbance regimes.     

Fluvial and hydrothermal input of manganese into the Arctic Ocean

A total of 773 samples were analysed for dissolved manganese (Mn) in the Arctic Ocean aboard R.V. Polarstern during expedition ARK XXII/2 from 28 July until 07 October 2007 from Tromsø (Norway) to Bremerhaven. Concentrations of Mn were elevated in the surface layer with concentrations of up to 6 nM over the deep Basins and over 20 nM in the Laptev Sea. The general distribution of Mn through the water column is consistent with previous studies, but there are differences in the absolute concentrations that are most likely related to differences in sample area, sampling and filtration.The elevated concentrations of Mn in the surface layer are related to fresh water input. This was visible in the strong negative correlations observed between dissolved Mn and salinity. The correlation between Mn and salinity and the correlation between Mn and the quasi conservative trace water mass tracer PO₄^∗, showed fluvial and melt water input and the Pacific and Atlantic origin of the surface waters. A large portion of the Mn delivered by the Arctic rivers is removed in the shelf seas and does not pass into the central basins. Most likely a benthic flux is at the origin of the elevated concentrations of Mn near the sediments in the Barents and Kara Seas. These elevated concentrations of Mn apparently affected the deep basins as well, as maxima in the concentrations of Mn were observed that corresponded with lowered transmission over the continental slope.A maximum in the concentration of Mn in the deep basin corresponded with anomalies in light transmission, potential temperature and dissolved iron, confirming the hydrothermal origin. The hydrothermal plume was observed throughout the Nansen Basin and over the deep Gakkel Ridge around 2500 m depth and a smaller plume was observed around 3200 m. The concentration of Mn at the Mn maximum around 2500 m depth decreased exponentially, consistent with a first order scavenging model. The concentrations of Mn were extremely low in the deep Makarov Basin (∼0.05 nM) and slightly higher in the Eurasian Basin (∼0.1 nM) outside the influence of the hydrothermal activity.     

Biomarker lipids of the freshwater fern Azolla and its fossil counterpart from the Eocene Arctic Ocean

Eocene sediments recovered from the Lomonosov Ridge in the central Arctic Ocean during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 302 contain high amounts of fossil remains of the free floating freshwater fern Azolla. Both extant Azolla and the sediments from the Arctic Azolla interval were found to contain relatively high quantities of compounds identified as 1,ω20 C₃₀–C₃₆ diols. Furthermore, structurally related mid-chain hydroxy fatty acids, long chain n-alkanols and keto-ols were discovered. The different series have a common feature: there is always a hydroxy group at the ω20 position. In addition, structurally related C₂₉ ω20,ω21 diols, C₂₉ 1,20,21 triols, C₂₉ dihydroxy fatty acids as well as a series of wax esters containing these mono- and dihydroxy lipids are reported. Selective extraction of Azolla surface lipids revealed that these compounds are most likely present in the leaf waxes of the fern. The suite of long-chain, mid-chain ω20 hydroxy wax constituents is described for the first time. As they are well preserved in the Eocene sediments, these lipids may serve as palaeo-environmental indicators of the Arctic Azolla interval and as markers for the past occurrence of Azolla in general.     

黄渤海有机碳的分布特征及收支评估研究

陆架边缘海是陆海相互作用研究中最为关键的区域,也是全球重要的碳储库,在区域物质循环过程中发挥着重要的作用。基于2012年5月和11月对黄渤海海域的综合调查,对该海域水体和沉积物中有机碳的含量与分布进行了分析,并结合相关文献资料对黄渤海有机碳的收支进行了估算。主要结论为:黄渤海溶解有机碳和颗粒有机碳均呈近岸河口区域高、离岸低的分布趋势;有机碳的组成以溶解有机碳为主,颗粒有机碳由海洋自生的有机碳和陆地来源的有机碳组成;黄渤海沉积物有机碳高值区主要分布在河口和泥质区,其组成也是由海洋自生和陆源混合而成,其中渤海以陆源为主,而黄海以海源为主。黄渤海有机碳收支评估表明,有机碳的主要来源为初级生产力产生的有机物,其贡献为(6 760±971)×104t/a,占有机碳输入总量的(74±10)%,沉积物再悬浮的通量为(884±200)×104t/a,东海向黄海输入的通量为(679±107)×104t/a,河流及陆源输入的通量为(643±63)×104t/a,大气干湿沉降的通量为(141±39)×104t/a,其贡献分别占有机碳输入总量的(10±2.2)%,(7.5±1.2)%,(7.0±0.7)%和(1.5±0.4)%;黄渤海有机碳的主要支出为呼吸消耗,其贡献为(5 190±746)×104t/a,占有机碳输出总量的(57±8.2)%,黄海向东海输出的通量为(2 150±370)×104t/a,有机碳沉积通量为(1 030±225)×104t/a,有机碳降解通量为(737±191)×104t/a,其贡献分别占有机碳输出总量的(24±4.1)%,(11±2.5)%和(8.0±2.1)%。有机碳收支评估表明黄渤海有机碳以海洋自生来源为主,且具有潜在碳的"汇"的特性,水体中外源输入和海洋自生有机碳的(1.6±0.3)%埋藏于该海域内。     

北极地区地面辐射量和云辐射强迫特征

In this paper the characteristics of surface radiative fluxes and cloud-radiative forcing are reviewed with a focus on the Arctic. Three aspects are addressed, including (i) changes in radiation flux over the global surface; (ii) characteristics of surface fluxes in the Arctic; and (iii) characteristics of cloud-radiative forcing in the Arctic. The clouds not only significantly reduce the peak summer radiative heating of the surface but also reduce the wintertime radiative cooling at the surface in　higher latitudes. The downward longwave fluxes dominates the incident radiative fluxes in the Arctic during most of the year. Incoming shortwave fluxes are negligible during late fall, winter and early spring, and even during the midsummer the incoming shortwave fluxes are only slightly greater than the downward longwave fluxes. The total net surface radiative flux is negative for most of the year and only positive during midsummer in the Arctic. The global net cloud-radiative forcing is negative, but the cloud-radiative forcing is positive in the Arctic, showing a warming effect, except for a short period in mid-summer. Positive cloud-radiative forcing in the Arctic is attributed　to the presence of snow and ice with high albedo and the absence of solar radiation during the polar night.     

从土壤腐殖质分组到分子有机质组学认识土壤有机质本质

梳理了与土壤生态系统功能相联系的,特别是对固碳减排的土壤有机质本质认识的研究进展及路径,探讨了经典腐殖质学说存在的问题,概述了新近的有机质保护稳定学说及腐殖质组学学说,并追溯了生物标志物有机质分子研究,最后从土壤学的基本理念和理论出发讨论和重新认识土壤有机质的本质及其价值。从形成条件、分离条件和分子鉴定等多方面分析,土壤腐殖质形成和稳定学说越来越显示出局限性;而面向气候变化的碳固定研究可以深入探析土壤有机质的复杂存在状态。越来越认识到土壤有机质是投入土壤的有机物质经不同程度生物利用或降解的产物残留,只是被土壤不同程度地区隔和封闭,本质上仍是分子量变化极大的生命源有机物的集合。因此,可通过生物标志物分子作为靶标在土壤中提取和识别,该技术的发展将孕育萌生土壤有机质分子组学。后者可以用于判读土壤有机质的结构支撑、反应活性和促生功能等方面的本质差别,这些差别可能是由有机分子组成结构及存在状态所决定而不是由有机分子稳定性决定的。从这个概念出发,类似于土壤微生物分子生态,土壤有机质的丰度、组成、结构与功能间的联系可能是土壤有机质本质的核心问题。对这种关系的量化和参数化表征可用以探索土壤有机质永续固定,且可以保持生命活性的土壤有机质的管理策略及技术,并配合土壤的团聚体理论诠释土壤的本质和生态系统功能服务,这将是未来土壤学服务人类可持续发展的理论立足点。     

Exploring the Nature of Soil Organic Matter from Humic Substances Isolation to SOMics of Molecular Assemblage

In this review, the evolution of Soil Organic Matter (SOM) research was traced back to outline the main achievement of understanding SOM in relation to its ecological functioning, particularly of carbon sequestration against climate change. The short-coming of soil humus theory, knowledge of SOM protection and stabilization, framework of newly emerged Humeomics as well as the increasingly active study of molecular organics in soils were analyzed and discussed, highlighting the importance of re-visiting SOM in term of structure-property-functions for the main mission of modern soil science. There were limitations of soil forming conditions, fraction separation procedure and single molecule identification for understanding the huge complex humus of larger sized synthesized molecules. Thanks to the ever-active studies of soil (organic) carbon sequestration and stabilization focusing on the association status of SOM with soil components, SOM has been increasingly recognized as an assemblage of metabolites from life activities on or in soil, with different allocation or protected in mineral/organic complex phases, which could be traced by biomarker molecules. Using such biomarker molecules as a target (like primer in molecular microbiology), all the molecules of SOM could be digested and isolated for qualitative or quantitative identification with GC/MS high resolution technologies. Such development has emerged a new paradigm of molecular SOM study, finally as SOMics as a modern soil science frontier. The functioning of SOM for stabilizing soil structure, enhancing reactivity and promoting biological resistance could be correlated to the paradigm of abundance, composition, structure and functions rather than the content and recalcitrance of SOM. This may deserve urgent studies to quantify and parameterize the defined paradigm based on the molecular composition of SOM. Again, such theory and technology development could provide a tool to manage SOM in term of carbon sequestration but revalorizing bioactivity in ecosystems, especially in agroecosystems. We believe such studies could rather depict the nature of SOM and of soil in relation to its ecological services and functioning, which will be the focus of soil science in serving the sustainable development of human society.     

Horizontal Flows of Sedimentary Matter in the Coastal Zones of the Barents and White Seas

Doklady Earth Sciences - The first data on the lateral movement of sessile organisms in the water column are obtained. It is revealed that the lateral flow of suspended matter in the coastal...