Transport and deposition of plutonium in the ocean: evidence from Gulf of Mexico sediments

A study of sediments in the Gulf of Mexico shows dramatic gradients in Pu content and isotope ratios from the continental shelf to the Sigsbee Abyssal Plain. In terms of predicted direct fallout inventory of Pu, one shelf core contains 745% of the predicted inventory, while abyssal plain sediments contain only 15–20% of the predicted value. Absolute Pu concentrations of shelf sediments are also conspicuously high, up to 110 dpm/kg, compared to 13.5 dpm/kg in Mississippi River suspended sediment. There is no evidence of Pu remobilization in Gulf of Mexico shelf sediments, based on comparison of Pu profiles with Mn/Al and Fe/Al profiles. Horizontal transport of fallout nuclides from the open ocean to removal sites in ocean margin sediments is concluded to be the source of both the high concentrations and high inventories of Pu reported here.The shelf sediments show²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu ratios close to 0.179, the average stratospheric fallout value, but the ratios decrease progressively across the Gulf to low values of 0.06 in abyssal plain sediments. The source of low-ratio Pu in deep-water sediments may be debris from low yield tests transported in the troposphere. Alternatively, it may represent a fraction of the Pu from global stratospheric fallout which has been separated in the water column from the remainder of the Pu in the ocean. In either case, the low-ratio material must have been removed rapidly to the sea floor where it composes a major fraction of the Pu in abyssal plain sediments. Pu delivered by global atmospheric fallout from the stratosphere has apparently remained for the most part in the water or has been transported horizontally and removed into shallow-water sediments.     

Sedimentary indicators of water movement in the western approaches to the English Channel

The continental shelf to the southwest of the British Isles is an area of intense tidal current activity. Although most of the sediment is coarse, it still contains a small proportion of fine (<63 μm) material, consisting mainly of biogenic debris. Coccoliths in particular are both common and widespread and they are found in the adjacent slope sediments. The results presented here show that coccolithophorid diversity is high in the deeper parts of Whittard Canyon, the abyssal plain, and on a small area of shelf. Diversity decreases away from the ocean towards the land. Coccoliths and coccospheres have also been recorded from surface water samples. Apart from the landward movement of oceanic water shown by the coccolithophorids, movement of material on the bottom from shelf to slope is shown by the distribution of benthic diatom frustules and mollusc shell chips cut by clionid sponges. Thus, a study of the fine sediment reveals details of sediment transport and water movement.     

Sediment deformation and plate tectonics in the Gulf of Oman

The continental margin off the Makran coast of Iran and Pakistan is an excellent example of active deformation of sediments at a compressive plate boundary. Seismic reflection profiles across the margin suggest that relatively flat-lying sediments from the Oman abyssal plain are being scraped off the Arabian plate and accreted onto the Eurasian plate in a series of tightly folded sediment ridges aligned parallel to the coast. The most active folding appears to be occurring in the southernmost of the ridges, where it has formed a frontal fold up to 750 m high, with a width of 3–4 km. Filling of the basins between the ridges with later sediment becomes progressively more complete towards the north, and produces a smooth continental shelf near the coast, where the ridges are completely buried by sediment. Evidence for the possible presence of northward-dipping thrust faults which uplift the ridges towards the coast is seen in the consistent back-tilting of the sediments in the inter-fold basins.Below the abyssal plain to the south of the folded zone the sediments are divided by a prominent reflector, horizon A, into an upper group of flat-lying beds that overlie strata which dip gently to the north. A sharp velocity increase occurs across this horizon. The deepest observable reflector, horizon B, is seen as a series of diffraction hyperbolae which dip conformably northwards at about 1°. Velocity determinations from refraction and variable-angle reflection stations over the abyssal plain indicate a thick pile of low-velocity material which is probably sediment lying above horizon B. The material directly below horizon B has a velocity of 4.5 ± 0.2km/s and is probably volcanic in origin.     

Lithostratigraphy of Permian marine sequences, Khao Pun Area, central Thailand: Paleoenvironments and tectonic history

Geologic mapping and subsurface lithostratigraphic investigations were carried out in the Khao Pun area (4 km²), central Thailand. More than 250 hand specimens, 70 rock slabs, and 70 thin sections were studied in conjunction with geochemical data in order to elucidate paleoenvironments and tectonic setting of the Permian marine sedimentary sequences. This sedimentary succession (2485 m thick) was re‐accessed and re‐grouped into three lithostratigraphic units, namely, in ascending order, the Phu Phe, Khao Sung and Khao Pun Formations. The Lower to lower Upper Permian sedimentary facies indicated the transgressive/regressive succession of shelf sea/platform environment to pelagic or abyssal environment below the carbonate compensation depth. The sedimentological and paleontological aspects, together with petrochemical and lithological points of view, reveal that the oldest unit might indicate an Early Permian sheltered shallow or lagoonal environment. Then the depositional basin became deeper, as suggested by the prolonged occurrence of bedded chert‐limestone intercalation with the local exposure of shallower carbonate build‐up. Following this, the depositional environment changed to pelagic deposition, as indicated by laminated radiolarian (e.g. Follicucullus sp.) cherts. This cryptic evidence might indicate the abyssal environment during middle Middle to early Late Permian; whereas, previous studies advocated shelf‐facies environments. Following this, the depositional condition might be a major regression on the microcontinent close to Indochina, from the minor transgressive/regressive cycles that developed within a skeletal barrier, and through the lagoon with limited circulational and anaerobic conditions, on to the tidal flat to the sheltered lagoon without effective land‐derived sediments.     

Sediment mass and distribution in the South China Sea since the Oligocene

The sediment macro-distribution patterns and their evolutionary characteristics in the South China Sea (SCS) are discussed based on a quantification of the sediment mass from the be- ginning of seafloor spreading in the Oligocene to the Present. Above the pre-Oligocene base, the total sediment mass for the whole SCS is estimated to be 1.44×1016 t, with the highest average accumulation rate of ~22 g·cm-2·ka-1 in the Oligocene. Having no large abyssal fans but fast accumulation in sedimentary basins on the continental shelf and slope, the SCS shows quite different sedimentary characters not only from the open ocean but also from small backarc basins along the marginal West Pacific, apparently controlled by the coupling between local tectonics and global climate changes.     

Anthropogenic "Litter" and macrophyte detritus in the deep Northern Gulf of Mexico

A deep-sea trawl survey of the Northern Gulf of Mexico has documented the abundance and diversity of human-generated litter and natural detrital plant material, from the outer margin of the continental shelf out to the Sigsbee abyssal plain. Plastics were the most frequently encountered type of material. Litter and debris were encountered more frequently in the eastern than in the western GoM. Land-derived plant material was located primarily within the head of the Mississippi Canyon, whereas ocean-derived plant material was spread evenly throughout the NE GoM. Human discards were principally from ships offshore. Some of the material was contained in metal cans that sank to the sea floor, probably in order to conform to international agreements that prohibit disposal of toxic material and plastics. The Mississippi Canyon was a focal point for litter, perhaps due to topography, currents or proximity to shipping lanes.     

Super-scale Failure of the Southern Oregon Cascadia Margin

—Using SeaBeam bathymetry and multichannel seismic reflection records we have identified three large submarine landslides on the southern Oregon Cascadia margin. The area enclosed by the three arcuate slide scarps is approximately 8000 km², and involves an estimated 12,000–16,000 km³ of the accretionary wedge. The three arcuate slump escarpments are nearly coincident with the continental shelf edge on their landward margins, spanning the full width of the accretionary wedge. Debris from the slides is buried or partially buried beneath the abyssal plain, covering a subsurface area of at least 8000 km². The three major slides, called the Heceta, Coos Basin and Blanco slides, display morphologic and structural features typical of submarine landslides. Bathymetry, sidescan sonar, and seismic reflection profiles reveal that regions of the continental slope enclosed by the scarps are chaotic, with poor penetration of seismic energy and numerous diffractions. These regions show little structural coherence, in strong contrast to the fold thrust belt tectonics of the adjacent northern Oregon margin. The bathymetric scarps correlate with listric detachment faults identified on reflection profiles that show large vertical separation and bathymetric relief. Reflection profiles on the adjacent abyssal plain image buried debris packages extending 20–35 km seaward of the base of the continental slope. In the case of the youngest slide, an intersection of slide debris and abyssal plain sediments, rather than a thrust fault, mark the base of slope. The age of the three major slides decreases from south to north, indicated by the progressive northward shallowing of buried debris packages, increasing sharpness of morphologic expression, and southward increase in post-slide reformation of the accretionary wedge. The ages of the events, derived from calculated sedimentation rates in overlying Pleistocene sediments, are approximately 110 ka, 450 ka, and 1210 ka. This series of slides traveled 25–70 km onto the abyssal plain in at least three probably catastrophic events, which may have been triggered by subduction earthquakes. The lack of internal structure in the slide packages, and the considerable distance traveled suggest catastrophic rather than incremental slip, although there could have been multiple events. The slides would have generated large tsunami in the Pacific basin, possibly larger than that generated by an earthquake alone. We have identified a potential future slide off southern Oregon that may be released in a subduction earthquake. The occurrence of the slides and subsequent subduction of the slide debris, along with evidence for margin subsidence implies that basal subduction erosion has occurred over at least the last 1 Ma. The massive failure of the southern Oregon slope may have been the result of the collision of a seamount province or aseismic ridge with the margin, suggested by the age progression of the slides and evidence for subducted basement highs. The lack of latitudinal offset between the oldest slide debris and the corresponding scarp on the continental slope implies that the forearc is translating northward at a substantial fraction of the margin-parallel convergence rate.     

The main characteristics, problems, and prospects for Western European coastal seas

Located to the far West of Western Europe, France has a western maritime coastal zone of more than 3800 km, which is widely influenced by the North-eastern Atlantic. The English Channel, an epi-continental shallow sea with very strong tides, runs along 650 km of the French coast and 1100 km of the English coast. It is also a bio-geographical crossroad encompassing a much wider range of ecological conditions than other European seas. France's Atlantic coast north of the Gironde estuary is a succession of rocky and sandy shorelines, including a sizeable intertidal zone, a wide continental shelf, and two major estuaries (Loire and Gironde). South of the Gironde, the 260 km of coastline is low, sandy and straight, with a narrowing continental shelf further on South due to the presence of the Cape Breton canyon in the bathyal and abyssal zones. Interface between the continental and oceanic systems, these bordering seas--North Sea, English Channel and Atlantic Ocean--have been the subject of many recent research programmes (the European Mast-FLUXMANCHE and INTERREG programmes; the national coastal environment programme and the LITEAU programme in France), designed to improve comprehension of the functions, production, and dynamics of these seas as well as their future evolution. Given the many conflicting practices in these littoral zones, integrated coastal zone management appears to be essential in order to cope with both natural phenomena, such as the infilling of estuarine zones, cliff erosion, and rising sea levels, and chronic anthropogenic pressures, such as new harbour installations (container dikes, marinas), sea aggregate extraction for human constructions, and offshore wind mill farms. This article provides as complete an overview as possible of the research projects on these bordering seas, both those that have recently been accomplished and those that are currently in progress, in order to highlight the main characteristics of these ecosystems and to underline the future challenges for European marine research in terms of the integrated coastal zone management of these highly significant coastal zones.     

Flow of grounded abyssal ocean currents along zonally-varying topography on a rotating sphere

A steady nonlinear planetary–geostrophic model in spherical coordinates is presented describing the hemispheric-scale meridional flow of grounded abyssal currents on a zonally-sloping bottom. The model, which corresponds mathematically to a quasi-linear hyperbolic partial differential equation, can be solved explicitly for a cross-slope isopycnal field that is grounded (i.e. intersects the bottom on the up slope and down slope sides). As a consequence of the conservation of potential vorticity, the abyssal currents possess decreasing thickness in the equatorward direction while maintaining constant meridional volume transport. There is a small westward zonal transport in the interior of these currents that results in westward intensification as they flow toward the equator. Conditions for the possible formation of a shock to develop on the up slope flank of the current are derived.     

Silicic differentiates of abyssal oceanic magmas: Evidence for late-magmatic vapor transport of potassium

Massive, nearly holocrystalline dolerites from DSDP Hole 417D contain from 0.5 to 1.5% of granophyric patches composed mainly of Na-plagioclase and quartz. These patches are compositionally similar to other crystalline silicic rocks from oceanic spreading centers and differ from rarer abyssal silicic glasses. Crystalline varieties withSiO₂60wt.% generally haveNa/K>10, whereas silicic glasses have Na/K in the range 3–6. While crystal fractionation readily accounts for the Na₂O and K₂O contents of abyssal silicic glasses, both the 417D granophyres and other crystalline abyssal silicic rocks have much lower K₂O than that predicted by any reasonable crystal-liquid fractionation model. We propose that high-temperature vapor phase transport is responsible for removal of potassium during late-stage crystallization of these rocks. This allows for the formation of cogenetic silicic glassy and crystalline rocks with greatly different Na/K ratios. These observations and interpretations lead to a more confident assignment of high Na/K silicic rocks of oceanic and ophiolitic environments to a cogenetic origin with basaltic oceanic crust.     

Sediment dewatering in the Makran accretionary prism

Sediments within the Makran accretionary prism are considerably more compacted than the material entering the subduction zone due to the additional tectonic stresses resulting from plate convergence and accretionary processes. Tectonic compaction of the offscraped sediments has been documented by deriving in-situ porosities in the upper 4 km from their seismic velocities. Wide-angle seismic reflection-refraction profiles were analysed from a transect crossing both the Makran accretionary prism and the undeformed abyssal plain sediments to the south. The 6–7 km thick abyssal plain sediments exhibit normal compaction with depth. The sediments incorporated into the accretionary prism have higher seismic velocities at all depths, corresponding to reductions in porosity of 30–40%. Mapping the porosity-depth gradient across the prism shows that there is a marked change in porosity at the seaward toe of the prism, the frontal fold. There is then little further change until further folding begins to occur 70 km landward of the toe. The dewatering and consolidation of the sediments is an important control on deformation occurring within the sedimentary prism.     

Fractionation of abyssal tholeiites: Samples from the oceanographer Fracture Zone (35°N, 35°W)

Chemical analyses of 48 fresh abyssal tholeiite specimens sampled from two dredge localities clearly define systematic chemical differences which indicate a moderate iron-enrichment trend of fractionation oblique to the FeO^*₂O, P₂O₅ and TiO₂. These results suggest that fractionation may be important in controlling the chemistry of abyssal tholeiites along sections of the mid-oceanic ridge.     

Potential radionuclide transport pathways from seafloor dumpsites: Kamchatka region of the North Pacific Ocean

Encapsulated nuclear waste materials, dumped by Russia, are present at two deepwater seafloor locations in the offshore north-west Pacific Ocean, south-east of the Kamchatka Peninsula. This paper assesses potential pathways by which these wastes might, if released from their containers, disperse away from the dumpsites and through the surrounding ocean. A review of large-scale ocean circulation theory and of field and model results suggests that mean abyssal currents are north-eastward to eastward from the dumpsite locations and would advect leaking materials toward the north-eastern Pacific. Results of advective and diffusive horizontal plume transport models are consistent with this sense of flow. Trajectory speeds are, however, subject to considerable uncertainty. Our results suggest that as little as 5 years or as long as 100 years might be required for material to be transported from the dump sites to the north-east Pacific. Dilution by 4 or 5 orders of magnitude is predicted during this transit. Vertical mixing or upwelling are necessary in order to transport contaminants upward from north-east Pacific abyssal waters to the near-surface layers before they can potentially impact productive coastal regions, such as those off Alaska. Information concerning such upwelling mechanisms is inadequate for estimation of rates or to identify geographical areas that might be at risk.     

A STUDY OF ABYSSAL FRACTURES IN THE UKRAINIAN SHIELD BY GEOPHYSICAL METHODS*

According to data presented by YU.A. Kosigin, 84% of all endogenous mineral deposits are in some direct or indirect relation with the fractures of the earth's crust. Therefore the discovery and the study of the spatial disposition of the fractures is the most important object for geophysicists. Abyssal fractures are of particular interest. By geophysical methods one can find the geometrical parameters of abyssal fractures such as their extent, the depth of formation, the breadth of the zones, and the amplitude of the relative displacement of separated blocks. The methods determining these parameters are widely known. A calculation of the difference in the levels of the erosion cuts of the blocks are of particular interest under shield conditions. A method to calculate this difference by gravity interpretation of “step” anomalies and by using the gradient model of the earth's crust is proposed. A comparision of the results of gravimetry and magnetometry with those of deep seismic soundings shows that the fractures of the first and the second order in the Ukrainian shield cut the earth's crust and part of the upper mantle so they can be qualified as abyssal fractures. In the Ukrainian shield the spatial regularities of the fractures determined by geophysical methods can be used for the prognosis of the ore deposits.     

Slow persistent mixing in the abyss

Ocean Dynamics - Knowledge about deep-ocean turbulent mixing and flow circulation above abyssal hilly plains is important to quantify processes for the modeling of resuspension and dispersal of...     

The Oxygen Cycle in Lake Baikal

The oxygen cycle and the balance of free oxygen and oxygen bound in CO₂in Lake Baikal are discussed based on new data on the gas exchange between the lake and atmosphere, O₂consumption in bottom sediments, and the rate of aerobic decomposition in the abyssal zone of the lake.     

Coastal and shelf circulation in the vicinity of Camamu Bay (14°S), Eastern Brazilian Shelf

The Camamu Bay (CMB) is located on the narrowest shelf along the South American coastline and close to the formation of two major Western Boundary Currents (WBC), the Brazil/North Brazil Current (BC/NBC). These WBC flow close to the shelf break/slope region and are expected to interact with the shelf currents due to the narrowness of the shelf. The shelf circulation is investigated in terms of current variability based on an original data set covering the 2002-2003 austral summer and the 2003 austral autumn. The Results show that the currents at the shelf are mainly wind driven, experiencing a complete reversal between seasons due to a similar change in the wind field. Currents at the inner-shelf have a polarized nature, with the alongshore velocity mostly driven by forcings at the sub-inertial frequency band and the cross-shore velocity mainly supra-inertially forced, with the tidal currents playing an important role at this direction. The contribution of the forcing mechanisms at the mid-shelf changes between seasons. During the summer, forcings in the two frequency bands are important to drive the currents with a similar contribution of the tidal currents. On the other hand, during the autumn season, the alongshore velocity is mostly driven by sub-inertial forcings and tidally driven currents still remain important in both directions. Moreover, during the autumn when the stratification is weaker, the response of the shelf currents to the wind forcing presents a barotropic signature. The meso-scale processes related to the WBC flowing at the shelf/slope region also affect the circulation within the shelf, which contribute to cause significant current reversals during the autumn season. Currents at the shelf-estuary connection are clearly supra-inertially forced with the tidal currents playing a key role in the generation of the along-channel velocities. The sub-inertial forcings at this location act mainly to drive the weak ebb currents which were highly correlated with both local and remote wind forcing during the summer season.     

Effect of upwelling on phytoplankton productivity of the outer southeastern United States continental shelf

Gulf Stream frontal disturbances cause nutrient-rich waters to frequently upwell and intrude onto the southeastern United States continental shelf between Cape Canaveral, Florida and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Phytoplankton response in upwelled waters was determined with three interdisciplinary studies conducted during April 1979 and 1980, and in summer 1978. The results show that when shelf waters are not stratified, upwelling causes productive phytoplankton (diatom) blooms on the outer shelf. Phytoplankton production averages about 2 g C m⁻² d⁻¹ during upwelling events, and ‘new’ production is 50% or more of the total. When shelf waters are stratified, upwelled waters penetrate well onto the shelf as a subsurface intrusion in which phytoplankton production averages about fives times higher than the nutrient-depleted overlying mixed layer. Phytoplankton within the intrusion deplete upwelled NO₃ in about 7 to 10 days, at which point no further net increase in phytoplankton biomass occurs.Current meter records show that upwelling occurs roughly 50% of the time on the outer shelf during November to April (shelf not stratified), and we estimate that seasonal primary production in upwelled waters is 175 g C m⁻² 6 months⁻¹ of which at least 50% is ‘new’ production. More than 90% of outer shelf primary and ‘new’ production occurs during upwelling and thus upwelling is the dominant process affecting primary productivity of the outer shelf. Our seasonal estimates of outer shelf primary and ‘new’ production are, respectively, three and ten times higher than previous estimates that did not account for upwelling.     

Characteristics of seasonal and spatial variations of primary production over the southeastern Bering Sea shelf

In situ primary production data collected during 1978–1981 period and 1997–2000 period were combined to improve understanding of seasonal and spatial distribution of primary production in the southeastern Bering Sea. Mean daily primary production rates showed an apparent seasonal cycle with high rates in May and low rates in summer over the entire shelf of the southeastern Bering Sea except for oceanic region due to lack of data. There was also an increasing trend of primary production rates in the fall over the inner shelf and the middle shelf. There was a decreasing trend of primary production rates between late April and mid-May over the inner shelf while there was an abrupt increase between late April and mid-May over the middle shelf and the outer shelf. In the shelf break region, there was an increasing pattern in late May. These suggest that there was a gradual progression of the development of the spring phytoplankton bloom from the inner shelf toward the shelf break region. There was also a latitudinal variability of primary production rate over the middle shelf, probably due to either spatial variations of the seasonal advance and retreat of sea ice or horizontal advection of saline water in the bottom layer. Annual rates of primary production across the southeastern Bering Sea shelf were 121, 150, 145, 110, and 84 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ in the inner shelf, the middle shelf, the outer shelf, the shelf break, and oceanic region, respectively. High annual rates of primary production over the inner shelf can be attributed to continuous summer production based on regenerated nitrogen and/or a continuous supply of nitrogen at the inner front region, and to fall production. There were some possibilities of underestimation of annual primary production over the entire shelf due to lack of measurement in early spring and fall, which may be more apparent over the shelf break and oceanic region than the inner shelf, the middle, and the outer shelf. This study suggests that the response of primary production by climate change in the southeastern Bering Sea shelf can be misunderstood without proper temporal and seasonal measurement.