Carbon cycling within the upper methanogenic zone of continental rise sediments; An example from the methane-rich sediments overlying the Blake Ridge gas hydrate deposits

Data from piston cores collected from Carolina Rise and Blake Ridge, and from many DSDP/ODP sites indicate that extreme ¹³C-depletion of methane and ΣCO₂ occurs within the uppermost methanogenic zone of continental rise sediments. We infer that ¹³C-depleted methane is generated near the top of the methanogenic zone when carbon of ¹³C-depleted ΣCO₂, produced by microbially-mediated anaerobic methane oxidation, is recycled back to methane through CO₂ reduction. Interstitial water and gas samples were collected in 27 piston cores, 16 of which penetrated through the sulfate reduction zone into methane-bearing sediments of the Carolina Rise and Blake Ridge. Isotopic measurements (δ¹³C_CH4, δ¹³C_CO2, δD_CH4, and δD_H2O) indicate that this methane is microbial in origin, produced by microbially-mediated CO₂ reduction. Methane samples form two distinct isotopic pools. (1) Methane from a seafloor seep site shows a mean δ¹³C_CH4 value of − 69 ± 2%., mirroring values found at ≥ 160 mbsf from a nearby DSDP site. (2) Twenty, areally-separated sites (sample depth, 10 to 25 mbsf) have δ¹³C_CH4 values ranging from −85 to −103%., and δ¹³C_CO2 as negative as −48%.. The very low δ¹³C values from the methane and CO₂ pools highlight the importance of carbon cycling within continental rise sediments at and near the sulfate-methane boundary.     

Global stratigraphy of Venus: analysis of a random

The age relations between 36 impact craters with dark paraboloids and other geologic units and structures at these localities have been studied through photogeologic analysis of Magellan SAR images of the surface of Venus. Geologic settings in all 36 sites, about 1000 × 1000 km each, could be characterized using only 10 different terrain units and six types of structures. These units and structures form a major stratigraphic and geologic sequence (from oldest to youngest): 1) tessera terrain; 2) densely fractured terrains associated with coronae and in the form of remnants among plains; 3) fractured and ridged plains and ridge belts; 4) plains with wrinkle ridges; 5) ridges associated with coronae annulae and ridges of arachnoid annulae which are contemporary with wrinkle ridges of the ridged plains; 6) smooth and lobate plains; 7) fractures of coronae annulae, and fractures not related to coronae annulae, which disrupt ridged and smooth plains; 8) rift-associated fractures; 9) craters with associated dark paraboloids, which represent the youngest 10% of the Venus impact crater population (Campbellet al., 1992), and are on top of all volcanic and tectonic units except the youngest episodes of rift-associated fracturing and volcanism; surficial streaks and patches are approximately contemporary with dark-paraboloid craters.Mapping of such units and structures in 36 randomly distributed large regions (each 10⁶ km²) shows evidence for a distinctive regional and global stratigraphic and geologic sequence. On the basis of this sequence we have developed a model that illustrates several major themes in the history of Venus. Most of the history of Venus (that of its first 80% or so) is not preserved in the surface geomorphological record. The major deformation associated with tessera formation in the period sometime between 0.5–1.0 b.y. ago (Ivanov and Basilevsky, 1993) is the earliest event detected. In the terminal stages of tessera formation, extensive parallel linear graben swarms representing a change in the style of deformation from shortening to extension were formed on the tessera and on some volcanic plains that were emplaced just after (and perhaps also during the latter stages of the major compressional phase of tessera emplacement. Our stratigraphic analyses suggest that following tessera formation, extensive volcanic flooding resurfaced at least 85% of the planet in the form of the presently-ridged and fractured plains. Several lines of evidence favor a high flux in the post-tessera period but we have no independent evidence for the absolute duration of ridged plains emplacement. During this time, the net state of stress in the lithosphere apparently changed from extensional to compressional, first in the form of extensive ridge belt development, followed by the formation of extensive wrinkle ridges on the flow units. Subsequently, there occurred local emplacement of smooth and lobate plains units which are presently essentially undeformed. The major events in the latest 10% of the presently preserved history of Venus (less than 50 m.y. ago) are continued rifting and some associated volcanism, and the redistribution of eolian material largely derived from impact crater deposits.Detailed geologic mapping and stratigraphic synthesis are necessary to test this sequence and to address many of the outstanding problems raised by this analysis. For example, we are uncertain whether this stratigraphic sequence corresponds to geologic events which were generally synchronous in all the sites and all around the planet, or whether the sequence is simply a typical sequence of events which occurred in different places at different times. In addition, it is currently unknown whether the present state represents a normal consequence of the general thermal evolution of Venus (and is thus representative of the level of geological activity predicted for the future), or if Venus, has been characterized by a sequence of periodic global changes in the composition and thermal state of its crust and upper mantle (in which case, Venus could in the future return to levels of deformation and resurfacing typical of the period of tessera formation).     

The Abiotic Nitrite Oxidation by Ligand-Bound Manganese (III): The Chemical Mechanism

Aquatic Geochemistry - Given their environmental abundances, it has been long hypothesized that geochemical interactions between reactive forms of manganese and nitrogen may play important roles in...     

The Rehabilitation of the Tampa Bay Estuary, Florida, USA, as an Example of Successful Integrated Coastal Management

The Tampa Bay Ecosystem is located in the state of Florida, USA. The 6739 km² ecosystem has undergone major changes due to coastal development, including dredging for maintenance and expansion of the 10th largest port in the USA. Approximately 44% of the historic emergent coastal wetlands and 81% of the historic submergent seagrass meadows had been lost through 1981. Declines in commercial and recreational fisheries harvests and coastal wildlife populations followed similar trends in declines. Beginning three decades ago, an informal Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) program initiated by citizen groups has progressed to a formal ICM program that has initiated restoration of the ecosystem and management through a unique multi-county umbrella organization, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.     

Evaluation of paleohydrologic models for terrestrial inverted channels: Implications for application to martian sinuous ridges

Fluvial systems can be preserved in inverted relief on both Earth and Mars. Few studies have evaluated the applicability of various paleohydrological models to inverted fluvial systems. The first phase of this investigation focused on an extensive (spanning  12 km) inverted paleochannel system that consists of four sandstone-capped, carbonate-cemented, sinuous ridges within the Early Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation located southwest of Green River, Utah. Morphologic and sedimentologic observations of the exhumed paleochannels were used to evaluate multiple numerical models for reconstructing paleofluvial hydrological parameters. Another objective of the study was to determine whether aerial or orbital observations yield model results that are consistent with those constrained by field data. The models yield an envelope of plausible dominant discharge values (100–500 m³/s), reflecting the limitations of the approach, and no single model can be used to reliably estimate paleodischarge. On Mars, landforms with attributes consistent with inverted channels have been identified. In spite of differences in the formation history between these martian landforms and the terrestrial analog described here, including potential differences in cement composition and the erosional agent that was responsible for relief inversion, these numerical models can be applied (with modification) to the martian landforms and yield an envelope of plausible values for dominant discharge.     

Baguio Mineral District: An oceanic arc witness to the geological evolution of northern Luzon,Philippines

The Baguio Mineral District exposes rock formations that evince the geological and tectonic evolution of this district from a subduction‐related marginal basin to an island arc setting. Available onshore and offshore data are consistent with an Early (onset phase) to Middle (developed phase) Miocene arc polarity reversal from the east (termination of subduction along the proto‐East Luzon Trough) to the west (initiation of subduction along the Manila Trench). Geophysical modeling and geochemical data calculation showed a 30 ± 5 km crustal thickness for the mineral district. Subduction‐related multiple arc magmatism and ophiolite accretion contributed to crustal thickening. Recent information on the Oligo–Miocene Zigzag and Klondyke formations in the mineral district reveal that the marginal basin, where these rocks were deposited, has received eroded materials from adjacent terrains characterized by siliceous lithologies. Furthermore, adakitic rocks, high permeable zones and extensional zones which are exploration markers applied to identify possible mineralization targets, are prevalent in the mineral district. The geological evolution that the district had undergone mimics the evolution of island arcs worldwide in general and northern Luzon in particular.     

A 13 ± 3 ka age determination of a tholeiite,Pinacate volcanic field,Mexico, and improved methods for Ar/Ar dating of young basaltic rocks

Among the youngest lava flows of the Pinacate volcanic field, Sonora, Mexico, is a large outpouring of tholeiite, the Ives flow. This tube-fed pahoehoe flow contrasts sharply with other Pinacate lavas in its great volume, alkali-poor composition and morphologic features, which include novel small structures named “spatter tubes.” Despite its K-poor character, young age, and the presence of excess ⁴⁰Ar, we determined a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age on samples of this flow at 13 ± 3 ka. Such an age determination is made possible via careful monitoring of the mass discrimination of the mass spectrometer and by stacking results from multiple incremental-heating experiments into a single, composite isochron. This age is among the youngest ever to be determined with such precision by the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method on a K-poor tholeiite.     

Sensitivity of the Himalayan Hydrology to Land-Use and Climatic Changes

Land-use and climatic changes are ofmajor concerns in the Himalayan region because oftheir potential impacts on a predominantlyagriculture-based economy and a regional hydrologydominated by the monsoons. Such concerns are notlimited to any particular basin but exist throughoutthe region including the downstream plains. As arepresentative basin of the Himalayas, the Kosi Basin(54,000 km²) located in the mountainous area ofthe central Himalayan region was selected as a studyarea. We used water balance and distributeddeterministic modeling approaches to analyze thehydrologic sensitivity of the basin to projectedland-use, and potential climate change scenarios.Runoff increase was higher than precipitation increasein all the potential precipitation change scenariosapplying contemporary temperature. The scenario ofcontemporary precipitation and a rise in temperatureof 4 °C caused a decrease in runoff bytwo to eight percent depending upon the areasconsidered and models used. In the absence of climaticchange, the results from a distributed water balancemodel applied in the humid south of the basinindicated a reduction in runoff by 1.3% in thescenario of maximum increase in forest areas below4,000 m.