Celestite formation, bacterial sulphate reduction and carbonate cementation of Eocene reefs and basinal sediments (Igualada, NE Spain)

Petrographic and geochemical studies of an Upper Eocene reef and associated basinal sediments from the mixed carbonate–siliciclastic fill of the south‐eastern Pyrenean foreland basin near Igualada (NE Spain) provide new insights into the evolution of subsurface hydrology during the restriction of a marine basin. The reef deposits are located on delta‐lobe sandstones and prodelta marls, which are overlain by hypersaline carbonates and Upper Eocene evaporites. Authigenic celestite (SrSO₄) is an important component in the observed diagenetic sequences. Celestite is a significant palaeohydrological indicator because its low solubility constrains transportation of Sr²⁺ and SO₄^2? in the same diagenetic fluid. Stable isotopic analyses of carbonates in the reef indicate that meteoric recharge was responsible for aragonite stabilization and calcite cementation. Sulphur and oxygen isotope geochemistry of the celestite demonstrates that it formed from residual sulphate after bacterial sulphate reduction, but also requires that there was a prior episode of sulphate recycling. Meteoric water reaching the reef and basinal areas was most probably charged with SO₄^2? from the dissolution of younger Upper Eocene marine evaporites. This sulphate, combined with organic matter present in the sediments, fuelled bacterial sulphate reduction in the meteoric palaeoaquifer. Strontium for celestite precipitation was partly derived in situ from dissolution of aragonite corals in the reef and basinal counterparts. However, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr data also suggest that Sr²⁺ was partly derived from dissolution of overlying evaporites. Mixing of these two fluids promoted celestite formation. The carbonate stable isotopic data suggest that the local meteoric water was enriched in ¹⁸O compared with that responsible for stabilization of other reefs along the basin margin. Furthermore, meteoric recharge at Igualada post‐dated evaporite deposition in the basin, whereas other parts of the same reef complex were stabilized before evaporite formation. This discrepancy resulted from the spatial distribution of continental siliciclastic units that acted as groundwater conduits.     

Effect of Decadal Changes in Freshwater Flows and Temperature on the Larvae of two Forage Fish Species in Coastal Nurseries of the St. Lawrence Estuary

Since 2002, the abundance of larvae of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) and Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) has been monitored in July in coastal nurseries (Anse Ste.-Anne (ASA) and Banc de Rivière-du-Loup (BRL)) in the Middle St. Lawrence Estuary (MSLE), Canada. The two species are spatiotemporally segregated, with smelt larvae being more abundant at the upstream, less saline site (ASA) and having an earlier hatching date. Despite these differences, the abundances of both species from 2002 to 2013 were strongly and positively related to the early spring flow of tributaries at the time of larval smelt emergence and weakly and negatively related to sea-surface temperatures in the nurseries. Larval herring abundance was weakly associated with the upstream bottom residual transport flow of the MSLE’s estuarine circulation in June, at the time of their emergence. Larval herring lengths in BRL were positively related to the sum of degree days (SDD) from hatching to sampling, with the greatest length but lowest condition in 2012. The relationship between body lengths of ASA smelt larvae and SDD was dome-shaped, suggesting lower growth than expected in the warmest years, 2006 and 2012. The highest larval abundances were observed in 2008 and 2011, both years with late tributary freshets, high tributary flows in the early spring and moderately warm summer temperatures. In contrast, low abundances occurred in 2006 and 2012, which were years with low spring tributary flows and high summer temperatures. These results suggest that the dynamics of local tributary freshets is a key driver of larval recruitment success for two key forage species in coastal nurseries until summer and support the use of fish larvae as indicators of environmental changes in the MSLE.     

Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd ages and isotopic geochemistry of Archaean granodioritic gneisses from Eastern Finland

Twenty granodioritic rocks and one amphibolitic enclave of the “basement” of the Suomussalmi-Kuhmo Archaean (2.65 Ga) greenstone belts (central-eastern Finland), have been chosen together with one greenstone sample for Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd geochronological and isotopic studies.The granitoïd rocks are subdivided into three groups: two generations of grey gneisses and a post-belt augen gneiss. The Rb-Sr ages of the first and second generation of grey gneisses are 2.86 ± 0.09 and 2.62 ± 0.07 Ga, respectively. These results are corroborated by Sm-Nd data. The post-belt augen gneiss gives an age of 2.51 ± 0.11 Ga. The results show that the two generations of grey gneisses, the greenstone belts and the post-greenstone augen gneiss, were developed over a period > 350 Ma. The two generations of grey gneisses show identical I_Sr values (0.7023 ± 8 and 0.7024 ± 6) which contrast with that of the augen gneiss (0.7049 ± 8). The low I_Sr and the near-chondritic ?_T^CHUR values indicate that the grey gneisses cannot derived from much older continental materials. Trace element studies suggest that these grey gneisses have had a multi-stage development. The augen gneiss with a moderately high I_Sr is likely to be derived from a granodiorite originated by partial melting of older sialic crust. The more probable parent rock seems to be the first generation grey gneisses. The I_Sr and average Rb/Sr values preclude the greenstone belt and the second generation of grey gneisses as the protolith.     

Abnormal features of Macoma balthica (Bivalvia) in the Baltic Sea: alerting symptoms of environmental adversity?

Recent studies of the Baltic clam Macoma balthica (L.) from the southern Baltic (the Gulf of Gdansk) have revealed striking morphological, histological and cytogenetic features. Strong deformation of the shell, including elongation of the posterior end and the appearance of an easily visible flexure in this part, has been recorded. The population contribution of the deformed blunt shelled ("irregular") clams ranged from 0% to 65% and tended to increase with depth. The morphologically "irregular" clams had higher accumulated tissue concentrations of trace metals (As, Ag, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn), indicating a different metal handling ability. Adverse conditions in deeper water regions of the Gulf (e.g. hypoxia, hydrogen sulphide, elevated bioavailability of contaminants) have been suggested as inducers of the phenotypical changes (morphological deformation) in part of the population and, in parallel, of the specific physiological adaptations that result in higher metal accumulation in the "irregular" clams. Cytogenetic and histological analyses showed the presence of tumours in gill cells and digestive system of the affected clams, the prevalence of disseminated neoplasia ranging from 0% to 94% depending on the site. The disease was manifested by a modified karyotype (i.e. an abnormal number and morphology of chromosomes), a higher activity of nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs), and tissue lesions (enlarged cells, actively proliferative with pleomorphic nuclei). Bottom sediments showed acute toxicity and have been proposed as a source of an initialising carcinogenic factor. However, none of the ecotoxicological studies provided was successful in the clear demonstration of a single (or multifactorial) agent that can account for the disseminated neoplasia.     

Preparing for climate change in Washington State

Climate change is expected to bring potentially significant changes to Washington State’s natural, institutional, cultural, and economic landscape. Addressing climate change impacts will require a sustained commitment to integrating climate information into the day-to-day governance and management of infrastructure, programs, and services that may be affected by climate change. This paper discusses fundamental concepts for planning for climate change and identifies options for adapting to the climate impacts evaluated in the Washington Climate Change Impacts Assessment. Additionally, the paper highlights potential avenues for increasing flexibility in the policies and regulations used to govern human and natural systems in Washington.     

Radar topography of domes on planetary surfaces

We investigate the possibility of measuring the heights and morphology of viscously emplaced domes using radar imagery. We accurately reproduce the known height and shape of a terrestrial salt dome, and estimate the heights of several venusian pancake domes to within a factor of two. The terrestrial salt dome is consistent with a Bingham flow, while the much larger venusian pancake domes are consistent with a Newtonian flow. Applying the same techniques to Ganesa Macula, a potential cryovolcanic dome on Titan, we estimate a height between 2.0-4.9 km. Additional factors such as variable roughness and composition might account for some of the discrepancies observed.