Benthic macrofauna and productivity regimes in the Barents Sea — Ecological implications in a changing Arctic

Benthic faunal assemblages were analysed from 47 stations in the central and southern parts of the Barents Sea, together with sedimentary and water column parameters, daily ice records and modelled integrated primary productivity. Sampling spanned areas influenced by Atlantic Water (AW) to those lying under Arctic Water (ArW), and included stations with mixed water masses. Ice cover suppressed water column productivity in the northern areas. Three main faunal groups were identified, based on similarity of numerical faunal composition. The northern and southern faunal groups were separated by the northernmost penetration of AW in the bottom water and the third group, the Hopen group, was influenced by modified bank water. Faunal abundances were significantly higher within the southern faunal group relative to the northern group, but the numbers of taxa present were similar. The particularly rich fauna of the Hopen group reflected sediment heterogeneity and tight pelagic–benthic coupling. These results suggest that a retreat and thinning of the ice cover in the Barents Sea likely will result in the northern parts of the Barents Sea becoming more Atlantic in character, with a higher productivity at the sea floor.     

Formaldehyde in Various Forms of Atmospheric Precipitation and Deposition from Highly Urbanized Regions

Formaldehyde levels were determined in various forms of atmospheric precipitation (rain, snow, road and roof runoff, throughfall) and deposition (rime, hoarfrost, dew) collected over twelve months at various locations in two large urban agglomerations and along two highways. HCHO was found in 303 of 500 samples analyzed, with concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 10.7 mg/dm³. The results confirmed the significant effect of vehicular traffic on formaldehyde levels in various forms of wet deposition. Correlations of formaldehyde levels with other parameters commonly monitored in precipitation and/or deposition were also examined. No correlation was found between HCHO levels and rain volume. On the other hand, positive correlations were found for hydrogen peroxide, non-sea-salt sulphate, nitrate, ammonia, and total organic carbon (TOC). In addition, the effect of selected meteorological parameters (temperature, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall) on the concentration of formaldehyde in various forms of precipitation and runoff (road runoff, roof runoff, throughfall) was studied. The only correlation found was that between HCHO concentration and daily rainfall.     

The influence of faults and intraplate stresses on the overpressure evolution of the Halten Terrace, mid-Norwegian margin

The Halten Terrace is a structural element of the Meso-Cenozoic mid-Norwegian margin. The pore fluid pressure distribution in the faulted Jurassic formations on the Halten Terrace is characterized by significant lateral variations. In general, the fluid overpressure increases stepwise across faults from east to west, from zero (hydrostatic fluid pressure) to about 30 MPa. Fault-bounded pressure cells can therefore best explain the fluid pressure distribution. The results of analyses of log-derived porosities indicate that the high overpressure in the westernmost pressure cell was built up recently. However, despite the high sedimentation rates during Plio-Pleistocene, the high overpressure cannot be explained by local mechanical compaction. Alternative explanations for the high overpressure proposed by other authors are based on pore fluid volume increase (e.g. hydrocarbon generation). We propose that the high overpressure is caused by fluid flow from the deep Rås Basin to the western part of the Halten Terrace, through fractures in the Mesozoic, deep seated Klakk Fault Complex. Opening of fractures in this fault zone by seismic and static mechanisms is possible in the present-day intraplate stress field, which is characterized by a NW–SE oriented maximum horizontal stress direction. During Miocene, the maximum horizontal stress was E–W oriented, which implies a stress rotation during Pliocene. The E–W orientation of the maximum horizontal stress has impeded the initiation and opening of fractures in the N–S striking Klakk Fault Complex during Miocene. Fluid flow from the Rås Basin through faults of the Klakk Fault Complex can therefore have occured since Pliocene. Thus, the rotation of the intraplate stress directions can explain why the build-up of overpressure on the western part of the Halten Terrace occured recently, as indicated by the results of porosity analyses. Understanding the overpressure evolution of the Halten Terrace is important for exploration in that area, as hydrocarbons have been found in the hydrostatic pressure cells, whereas they are absent in the high overpressure cells.