Extended time series measurements of submarine groundwater discharge tracers (222Rn and CH4) at a coastal site in Florida

We report the results of an experiment in which we measured ²²²Rn (15,000 observations), CH₄ (40,000 observations), and associated variables in seawater nearly continuously at a coastal site in the Gulf of Mexico for almost two years. Significant correlations between ²²²Rn and CH₄ imply that they are derived from a common source, most likely groundwater. However, we were unable to explain the overall tracer variability as a single function of groundwater table height, temperature, tidal range, and wind speed, indicating multiple, overlapping controls on SGD dynamics at this site. Methane and radon concentrations may vary 2-fold in a given well in the subterranean estuary over tidal time scales, demonstrating the complexity of determining SGD endmember concentrations and suggesting that unaccounted for temporal changes in groundwater may explain some of the patterns observed in seawater. Surprisingly, the variability of ²²²Rn and CH₄ in seawater over short (e.g., hourly) time scales was generally comparable to or even more pronounced than fluctuations over much longer (e.g., monthly) scales. While high tracer concentrations usually occurred during low tide and low tracer concentrations during high tide, this pattern was occasionally inverted or absent indicating that no single model can be used to describe the entire data set. We also describe a sequence of events in which SGD tracers were depleted in coastal waters during storms and regenerated afterwards. We found no increase in radon activities immediately after the largest storm (75 mm rainfall) perhaps because of the short residence times of groundwater in contrast to the ingrowth time of radon. Marine controls appeared to be the most important SGD drivers with only minor influence relating to the shallow and deep aquifers. This implies that seasonal investigations of SGD tracers in the coastal ocean may be masked by short-term variability.     

Comparison of radiocarbon and uranium-series dating methods as applied to marine apatite

A comparison of uranium-series geochronology and radiocarbon dating, the first systematic test of its kind applied to authigenic marine apatite, has been made for nine seafloor phosphate nodules sampled from the Peruvian and Chilean shelves. Radiocarbon ages agree well with the ²³⁰Th ages for all six samples with ²³⁰Th ages younger than the practical dating limit of the ¹⁴C technique for marine samples. Two of three “old” samples contain no significant ¹⁴C activities, as expected. However, one sample with a high concentration of phosphate pellets contains more than 30% of the modern ¹⁴C activity. The discrepancy between the ¹⁴C and U-series age for this sample is thought to be due to post-depositional adsorption of the particle-reactive elements thorium and protactinium onto pellet surfaces.     

In-situ measurement of the rate of235U fission induced by lunar neutrons

The depth profile of the neutron-induced fission rate of²³⁵U was directly measured to a depth of 350 g/cm² by the Apollo 17 Lunar Neutron Probe Experiment. The fission rate rises sharply from the surface to a broad maximum from 110 to 160 g/cm² and drops off at greater depths. The shape of theoretical depth profile of Lingenfelter et al. fits the measured capture rates well at all depths. The absolute magnitude of the experimental fission rates are (11±17)% lower than those calculated theoretically. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment implies that conclusions drawn previously by interpreting lunar sample data with the theoretical capture rates will not require revision. In particular lunar surface processes, rather than uncertainties in the capture rates, are required to explain the relatively low neutron fluences observed for surface soil samples compared to the fluences expected for a uniformly mixed regolith.     

Major Ion Chemistry in a Freshwater Coastal Lagoon from Southern Brazil (Mangueira Lagoon): Influence of Groundwater Inputs

This paper characterizes major ion distributions and investigates whether groundwater exerts a major control on the chemical functioning of Mangueira Lagoon, a large (90 km long), shallow (∼4–5 m deep), and fresh coastal lagoon in southern Brazil. Water volumes equivalent to ∼80% of the total annual input are used in the summer for irrigating nearby rice plantations, the most important regional economic activity. While Na⁺ and Cl⁻ are the major ions in local groundwater, Na⁺ and HCO₃⁻ are the most enriched ions in lagoon water. The ion concentrations measured in Mangueira Lagoon were homogeneous, except for a few samples affected by rainwater and groundwater inputs. A shore-normal transect starting at the pump house of a rice irrigation canal indicated strong groundwater input at this canal. In spite of the small volume contribution (∼2% of precipitation), groundwater discharge accounts for 50–70% of major ion inputs into the lagoon, with ∼70% of the groundwater inputs being anthropogenically derived (e.g., from the rice irrigation canals). This may have serious implications for the management of the coastal water resources from Mangueira Lagoon and other similar areas as groundwater associated with agricultural systems may be contaminated by fertilizers and pesticides. The results imply that groundwater should not be neglected in dissolved species’ budgets even when its volume contribution is small.     

应用高分辨率质谱分析苏丹高酸值原油成因

苏丹Muglad和Melut盆地是苏丹乃至整个中、西非剪切带最富含油气的盆地,所发现的原油主要为中质油(重度为20°～34°API),其次为重质油(重度小于20°API),普遍高含沥青质、高含蜡、高酸值、低含硫。为了探讨高酸值原油的成因,选择了苏丹地区18个不同酸值的原油样品,尝试高分辨率质谱分析上述原油有机酸的组成。结果表明,高酸值原油的有机酸主要由环烷酸组成;环烷酸的平均相对分子质量随降解作用程度增加而增大,分子碳原子数分布范围变宽;环烷酸以一环、二环、三环环烷酸为主。生物降解作用是形成高酸值原油的主要原因。     

Calcareous nannofossils and the Santonian/Campanian and Campanian/Maastrichtian boundaries on the Brazilian Continental Margin: historical overview and state of the art

Recognition of the Campanian stage on the Brazilian Continental Margin, using calcareous nannofossils, has been historically problematic. This paper constitutes an overview of earlier works, showing how nannofossil biostratigraphic ideas have evolved since Troelsen & Quadros provided the first biozonation of this region in 1971. Recent studied have provided data which have helped to clarify these apparent biostratigraphic problems, and allows this region to be placed in a global biostratigraphic context.The earliest researchers identified the Santonian/Campanian boundary by the last occurrences of ‘Lithastrinus grillii’ andPetrobrasiella venata. P. venatawas later abandoned as an index species due to its rarity and, instead, the last occurrences ofMarthasterites furcatusand ‘Lithastrinus grillii’ became the most-used markers. However, the stratigraphic age of these biohorizons diverged from those quoted in the literature. In the Brazilian basins, these extinctions, rather than having occurred in the Campanian as was recorded elsewhere, were considered to mark the top of the Santonian, as suggested by correlations with other microfossil groups (primarily foraminifera and palynomorphs). To explain this phenomenon, the existence of a condensed sequence was postulated for most of the Brazilian marginal basins, where the uppermost Santonian deposits were apparently indistinguishable from those of the lowermost Campanian. In line with current correlations presented in the nannofossil literature, and with new information obtained from core and side-wall samples, it is now believed that the extinction of these speciesdidoccur in the Campanian in the Brazilian basins, whilst the last occurrence ofLithastrinus moratus(previously misidentified asLithastrinus grillii) has become a useful Santonian marker. Thus the Santonian/Campanian boundary in Brazil lies in a stratigraphic position similar to elsewhere in nannofossil terms, that is below CC18.The Campanian/Maastrichtian boundary was initially characterised in nannofossil terms in Brazil by the last occurrence ofBroinsonia parca constricta, and later by the last occurrence ofEiffellithus eximius. Recently acquired data has shown that the sequence of events in the Brazilian marginal basins is similar to that of the Sissingh/Perch-Nielsen standard biozonation scheme through this interval. Again, correlations in the literature with the recently defined boundary (in macrofossil terms) thus allow the boundary to be determined between the last occurrences ofBroinsonia parca constrictaandUniplanarius trifidus, that is, in CC23b.     

Rare earth elements in the phosphatic-enriched sediment of the Peru shelf

Apatite-enriched materials from the Peru shelf have been analyzed for their major oxide and rare earth element (REE) concentrations. The samples consist of (1) the fine fraction of sediment, mostly clay material, (2) phosphatic pellets and fish debris, which are dispersed throughout the fine-grained sediment, (3) tabular-shaped phosphatic crusts, which occur within the uppermost few centimeters of sediment, and (4) phosphatic nodules, which occur on the seafloor. The bulk REE concentrations of the concretions suggest that these elements are partitioned between the enclosed detrital material and the apatite fraction. Analysis of the fine-grained sediment with which the samples are associated suggested that this detrital fraction in the concretions should have shale REE values; the analysis of the fish debris suggested that the apatite fraction might have seawater values. The seawater contribution of REE's is negligible in the nodules and crust, in which the apatite occurs as a fine-grained interstitial cement. That is, the concentration of REE's and the REE patterns are predominantly a function of the amount of enclosed fine-grained sediment. By contrast, the REE pattern of the pelletal apatite suggests a seawater source and the absolute REE concentrations are relatively high. The REE/P₂O₅ ratios of the apatite fraction of these samples thus vary from approximately zero (in the case of the crust and nodules) to as much as approximately 1.2 × 10⁻³ (in the case of the pellets). The range of this ratio suggests that rather subtle variations in the depositional environment might cause a significant variation in the REE content of this authigenic fraction of the sediment.

Pelletal glauconite was also recovered from one sediment core. Its REE concentrations closely resemble those of the fish debris.     

Study of air-ventilated cavity under model hull on water surface

The use of air cavities beneath ship hulls can lead to significant drag reduction. A study of air-ventilated cavities under a simplified hull has been undertaken. Experiments with a 56-cm-long stepped-hull model were carried in an open-surface water channel at flow velocities 28–86 cm/s. The air-cavity parameters were measured at different model positions. Different cavity forms, a strong growth of the cavity length with the flow velocity, and an optimal trim angle for the largest air-cavity area were identified. Numerical studies were conducted using a linear potential-flow method and the finite-volume viscous code Fluent. The computationally inexpensive three-dimensional potential-flow modeling predicted air-cavity shapes and provided qualitative agreement with the measured average length of the air cavity. Two-dimensional viscous modeling reasonably predicted macroscopic features and viscous effects in the air-cavity flow, while exaggerated the mixed-phase flow regions.