Natural gas seepage in the Gulf of Mexico

Hydrocarbon compositions and δ¹³C values for methane of fourteen natural seep gases and four underwater vents in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico are reported. The C₁/(C₂ + C₃) ratios of the seep gas samples ranged from 68 to greater than 1000, whereas δ_PDB¹³C values varied from ?39.9 to ?65.5‰. Compositions suggest that eleven of the natural gas seeps are produced by microbial degradation whereas the remaining three have a significant thermocatalytically produced component. Contradictions in the inferences drawn from molecular and isotopic compositions make strict interpretation of the origins of a few of the samples impossible.     

Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility in welded tuffs: application to a welded-tuff dyke in the tertiary Trans-Pecos Texas volcanic province,USA

Consideration of published anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) studies on welded ignimbrites suggests that AMS fabrics are controlled by groundmass microlites distributed within the existing tuff fabric, the sum result of directional fabrics imposed by primary flow lineation, welding, and (if relevant) rheomorphism. AMS is a more sensitive indicator of fabric elements within welded tuffs than conventional methods, and usually yields primary flow azimuth estimates. Detailed study of a single densely welded tuff sample demonstrates that the overall AMS fabric is insensitive to the relative abundances of fiamme, matrix and lithics within individual drilled cores. AMS determinations on a welded-tuff dyke occurring in a choked vent in the Trans-Pecos Texas volcanic field reveals a consistent fabric with a prolate element imbricated with respect to one wall of the dyke, while total magnetic susceptibility and density exhibit axially symmetric variations across the dyke width. The dyke is interpreted to have formed as a result of agglutination of the erupting mixture on a portion of the conduit wall as it failed and slid into the conduit, followed by residual squeezing between the failed block and in situ wallrock. Irrespective of the precise mechanism, widespread occurrence of both welded-tuff dykes and point-welded, aggregate pumices in pyroclastic deposits may imply that lining of conduit walls by agglutionation during explosive volcanic eruptions is a common process.     

Pu, Cs and excess Pb in Russian Arctic sediments

The activity ratios of Pu and radiocesium isotopes have been used to delineate the major sources (such as global and close-in (debris) fallout, nuclear fuel reprocessing and fabrication plant effluents) in the environment. We have measured ²³⁸Pu, ^239,240Pu, ¹³⁷Cs, and excess ²¹⁰Pb concentrations in 107 surficial sediments as well as in 5 sediment cores collected in the summer months of 1993 and 1994 from the Ob and Yenisey Rivers (Russia) and the Kara sea. A comparison of the sediment core inventories of ^239,240Pu and ¹³⁷Cs, along with the ²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu activity ratios, with those expected from global fallout allows us to estimate the relative amounts, if any, of reactor-derived ²³⁸Pu and ^239,240Pu from the dumped reactor sites in the study area.

In surficial sediment samples collected in 1993 and 1994, the ^239,240Pu concentrations varied between 4.2 and 856 mBq kg⁻¹, with a mean of 239 mBq kg⁻¹. In samples with a measurable ²³⁸Pu, the ²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu activity ratios varied between 0.010 and 0.069, with an average value of 0.035 ± 0.014. This range can be compared to the average ²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu activity ratio of 0.030 for the year 1993 from nuclear weapons testing and SNAP fallout obtained from soil studies, indicating very little (≤ 5%) additional sources of ²³⁸Pu to the sediments in the study area. The inventories of Pu in the 5 sediment cores from the study area varied between 2.67 ± 0.67 and 24.5 ± 2.2 Bq m⁻² with a mean value of 8.83 Bq m⁻². The ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in the upper 3 cm of the sediments varied between below detection limit to 71.4 Bq kg⁻¹, with a mean of 14.9 Bq kg⁻¹. The ¹³⁷Cs inventories in the 5 sediment cores varied between 156.7 ± 28.3 and 1600 ± 153.3 Bq m⁻², with a mean value of 583.3 Bq m⁻². The mean ratio of inventories of Pu to that of ¹³⁷Cs, 0.015, is comparable to the values in other places in the Arctic region. There is a significant correlation between total organic carbon and concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, ^239,240Pu and ²¹⁰Pb, suggesting that organic matter-enriched fine particles are a likely carrier phase for these nuclides. The ratio of ¹³⁷Cs/^239,240Pu also suggests that most of these nuclides are derived from global fallout.     

Atmospheric and glow images from the Shuttle

The use of simple photographic cameras on early Shuttle missions allowed spacecraft glow to be clearly identified, and its potential for the contamination of weak atmospheric emissions to be estimated. Since those early flights the equipment has been extensively modified so that it is now possible to obtain images with a spectral resolution of 0.1 nm. The early Shuttle glow observations are reviewed and the use of spatially scanned filters to obtain spectral results is described. These glow measurements are discussed in terms of some current ideas for vehicle induced glows and it is suggested that the glow intensity may be controlled by the temperature of the glowing surface. An example of an atmospheric image obtained with the interference filter camera is presented and the limitations in the use of such images are discussed.     

Modeling carbon stores in Oregon and Washington forest products: 1900–1992

A new model, FORPROD, for estimating the carbon stored in forest products, considers both the manufacture of the raw logs into products and the fate of the products during use and disposal. Data for historical patterns of harvest, manufacturing efficiencies, and product use and disposal were used for estimating the accumulation of carbon in Oregon and Washington forest products from 1900 to 1992. Pools examined were long- and short-term structures, paper supplies, mulch, open dumps, and landfills. The analysis indicated that of the 1,692 Tg of carbon harvested during the selected period, only 396 Tg, or 23%, is currently stored. Long-term structures and landfills contain the largest fraction of that store, holding 74% and 20%, respectively. Landfills currently have the highest rates of accumulation, but total landfill stores are relatively low because they have been used only in the last 40 years. Most carbon release has occurred during manufacturing, 45% to 60% lost to the atmosphere, depending upon the year. Sensitivity analyses of the effects of recycling, landfill decomposition, and replacement rates of long-term structures indicate that changing these parameters by a factor of two changes the estimated fraction of total carbon stored less than 2%.     

Hydrogen Peroxide at the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series Station. Part 1: Temporal Variability of Atmospheric Hydrogen Peroxide and Its Influence on Seawater Concentrations

Diurnal and seasonal variations in atmospheric hydrogen peroxideconcentrations wereinvestigated during a summer and winter cruise aboard the R.V. `Endeavor' atthe BermudaAtlantic Time Series Station. Rainwater peroxide concentrations in Augustdisplayed dielvariability while no temporal H₂O₂ pattern was evidentin March rain. Averageconcentrations in March were also significantly lower than August whichindicates photochemicalprocesses are involved in controlling hydrogen peroxide concentrations inmarine rainwaterfalling over the open ocean. The range of gas phase hydrogen peroxideconcentrations wasbetween 1 and 6 ppbv and also exhibited a strong diurnal pattern during bothAugust and Marchwith concentration maxima in the early evening. The influence of atmosphericdeposition onsurface seawater hydrogen peroxide levels was also evaluated. Hydrogenperoxide depth profileswere measured on four separate occasions before and after rain events duringthe Augustsampling period. The input of rainfall hydrogen peroxide was observedthroughout the 25 metermixed layer with surface concentrations two fold larger in the morning aftera rain event. Theintegrated increase in hydrogen peroxide after the rain from 0 to 90 meterswas 1,720 molalmost all of which could be accounted for by the peroxide added from rain.The data presentedin this study represent the first detailed, simultaneous measurements ofhydrogen peroxide inmarine air, rain and surface seawater.     

Toothed whales in the northwestern Mediterranean: insight into their feeding ecology using chemical tracers

Risso’s dolphins, pilot whales and sperm whales rarely strand in the northwestern Mediterranean. Thus, their feeding ecology, through the analysis of stomach contents, is poorly known. The aim of this study was to gain further insight into the segregation/superposition of the diet and habitat of Risso’s dolphins, pilot whales and sperm whales using chemical tracers, namely, stable isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and organochlorines. Significantly different δ¹⁵N values were obtained in Risso’s dolphins (11.7 ± 0.7‰), sperm whales (10.8 ± 0.3‰) and pilot whales (9.8 ± 0.3‰), revealing different trophic levels. These differences are presumably due to various proportions of Histioteuthidae cephalopods in each toothed whale’s diet. Similar δ¹³C contents between species indicated long-term habitat superposition or corroborated important seasonal migrations. Lower congener 180 concentrations (8.20 vs. 21.73 μg.g⁻¹ lw) and higher tDDT/tPCB ratios (0.93 vs. 0.42) were observed in sperm whales compared with Risso’s dolphins and may indicate wider migrations for the former. Therefore, competition between these species seems to depend on different trophic levels and migration patterns.     

Reconstructing and understanding the impacts of storms and surges,southern North Sea

Coastal barriers are ubiquitous globally and provide a vital protective role to valuable landforms, habitats and communities located to landward. They are, however, vulnerable to extreme water levels and storm wave impacts. A detailed record of sub‐annual to annual; decadal; and centennial rates of shoreline retreat in frontages characterized by both high (> 3 m) and low (< 1 m) dunes is established for a barrier island on the UK east coast. For four storms (2006–2013) we match still water levels and peak significant wave heights against shoreline change at high levels of spatial densification. The results suggest that, at least in the short‐term, shoreline retreat, of typically 5–8 m, is primarily driven by individual events, separated by varying periods of barrier stasis. Over decadal timescales, significant inter‐decadal changes can be seen in both barrier onshore retreat rates and in barrier extension rates alongshore. Whilst the alongshore variability in barrier migration seen in the short‐term remains at the decadal scale, shoreline change at the centennial stage shows little alongshore variability between a region of barrier retreat (at 1.15 m a^?1) and one of barrier extension. A data‐mining approach, synchronizing all the variables that drive shoreline change (still water level, timing of high spring tides and peak significant wave heights), is an essential requirement for validating models that predict future shoreline responses under changing sea level and storminess. © 2016 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Oceans of magma: Large Igneous Provinces (LIPS) and plumes

The Mt St Helens eruption of 1989 created world news and called forth expressions from journalists such as ‘the unbelievable power of Nature’ and ‘incredible powers of destruction’. Yet, this eruption pales into insignificance in the light of earlier volcanic events. Mt St Helens is estimated to have produced 1.2 cubic kilometres of solid material. Laki, in Iceland, is the most voluminous eruption in historic times and is estimated to have produced around 14 cubic kilometres of lava in 1783 to 1784. However, geologists know of older single eruptions that produced hundreds or even thousands of cubic kilometers of solid material and here I tell of a volcanic event that resulted in between one and ten million cubic kilometres of material in just a couple of million years or so. If this occurred at the present day it would almost certainly wipe out mankind and, indeed, earlier mass extinction events are ascribed to similar phenomena which have happened several times in the past. These events created ‘Large Igneous Provinces’ (LIPs) and here I concentrate on part of one of these to give an impression of their nature, examining what might be the cause of such enormous amounts of magma.