Sulfide Oxidation across Diffuse Flow Zones of Hydrothermal Vents

The sulfide (H₂S/HS^?) that is emitted from hydrothermal vents begins to oxidize abiotically with oxygen upon contact with ambient bottom water, but the reaction kinetics are slow. Here, using in situ voltammetry, we report detection of the intermediate sulfur oxidation products polysulfides [ $ {\text{S}}_{\text{x}}^{2 - } $ ] and thiosulfate [ $ {\text{S}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}_{ 3}^{ 2- } $ ], along with contextual data on sulfide, oxygen, and temperature. At Lau Basin in 2006, thiosulfate was identified in less than one percent of approximately 10,500 scans and no polysulfides were detected. Only five percent of 11,000 voltammetric scans taken at four vent sites at Lau Basin in May 2009 show either thiosulfate or polysulfides. These in situ data indicate that abiotic sulfide oxidation does not readily occur as H₂S contacts oxic bottom waters. Calculated abiotic potential sulfide oxidation rates are <10^?3 ??M/min and are consistent with slow oxidation and the observed lack of sulfur oxidation intermediates. It is known that the thermodynamics for the first electron transfer step for sulfide and oxygen during sulfide oxidation in these systems are unfavorable, and that the kinetics for two electron transfers are not rapid. Here, we suggest that different metal catalyzed and/or biotic reaction pathways can readily produce sulfur oxidation intermediates. Via shipboard high-pressure incubation experiments, we show that snails with chemosynthetic endosymbionts do release polysulfides and may be responsible for our field observations of polysulfides.     

Hydraulic conductivity and pore fluid chemistry in artificially weathered plastic clay

Triaxial and oedometer tests have examined how freezing–thawing (FT) and drying–wetting (DW) affect the hydraulic conductivity of a natural plastic clay. Because the clay was expansive, FT and DW in the laboratory produced only one order of magnitude increase in hydraulic conductivity above the ‘undisturbed’ value when permeated with water. Permeation with sodium carbonate or dimethyl sulfoxide reduced the hydraulic conductivity towards the undisturbed value, though some increases still remained. Hydraulic conductivities measured by oedometer were lower than those in the triaxial tests and varied strongly with applied pressure.     

Eutrophication and some European waters of restricted exchange

Regions of Restricted Exchange (RREs) are an important feature of the European coastline. They are historically preferred sites for human settlement and aquaculture and their ecosystems, and consequent human use, may be at risk from eutrophication. The OAERRE project (EVK3-CT1999-0002) concerns ‘Oceanographic Applications to Eutrophication in Regions of Restricted Exchange’. It began in July 2000, and studies six sites. Four of these sites are fjords: Kongsfjorden (west coast of Spitzbergen); Gullmaren (Skagerrak coast of Sweden); Himmerfjärden (Baltic coast of Sweden); and the Firth of Clyde (west coast of Scotland). Two are bays sheltered by sand bars: Golfe de Fos (French Mediterranean); and Ria Formosa (Portuguese Algarve). Together they exemplify a range of hydrographic and enrichment conditions. The project aims to understand the physical, biogeochemical and biological processes, and their interactions, that determine the trophic status of these coastal marine RRE through the development of simple screening models to define, predict and assess eutrophication. This paper introduces the sites and describes the component parts of a basic screening model and its application to each site using historical data. The model forms the starting point for the OAERRE project and views an RRE as a well-mixed box, exchanging with the sea at a daily rate E determined by physical processes, and converting nutrient to phytoplankton chlorophyll at a fixed yield q. It thus uses nutrient levels to estimate maximum biomass; these preliminary results are discussed in relation to objective criteria used to assess trophic status. The influence of factors such as grazing and vertical mixing on key parameters in the screening model are further studied using simulations of a complex ‘research’ model for the Firth of Clyde. The future development of screening models in general and within OAERRE in particular is discussed. In addition, the paper looks ahead with a broad discussion of progress in the scientific understanding of eutrophication and the legal and socio-economic issues that need to be taken into account in managing the trophic status of RREs.     

The modern development of nomadic living space in Southeast Arabia — the case of Dhofar (Sultanate of Oman)1

Sweeping changes have recently taken place in the life and economic circumstances of nomadic peoples in the countries of the Islamic East. In this respect, the ‘small’ oil-rich Gulf states are in a somewhat different position. In contrast to many other countries with nomadic populations, the prospects for the integration of the non-sedentary elements of the population into the process of modern development are more favourable in the Gulf states, chiefly because of their wealth in oil. The Omani government has devoted special attention to the development of the nomadic environment in the southern province of Dhofar following the end of the Dhofar conflict. A speedy expansion of the technological and social infrastructure took place on the basis of a newly created central place system of government centres. This covered the extension or provision of transport facilities, water supply, education, rural health services, religious establishments, the distribution of basic requisites to the population and the stimulation of retail trade. Additional government measures comprised the construction of low-cost housing for refugees, the allocation of building sites, financial assistance to the socially deprived and subsidies to shaykhs, as well as various small-scale programmes for the improvement of agriculture, livestock and fisheries. A further essential contribution to modern development has been the creation of thousands of new jobs, above all in the state's public service sector. The effects of the new opportunities for employment, together with relatively high cash incomes now available for many nomadic families, can be seen in numerous changes. The most important new trends can be summarised as the decline of the caravan trade, the advent of motor transport, an increasing rate of permanent settlement accompanied by a switch to gardening, the practice of commuting to fixed employment instead of nomadism, dependence on external food and outside markets and economic dependence on allowances, standardized tents and stone houses in place of the traditional dwellings. It can generally be confirmed that the nomadic population of Dhofar has shared in modern development in a variety of ways. However, a marked gap in development exists between the coastal area in the south with its settled population and the nomadic living space in the interior of Dhofar. Only the speedy introduction of a development programme that caters for the specific interests of the nomads can satisfactorily achieve their ultimate integration. If such measures fail to materialise one must fear a long-term social and economic decline for the majority of nomads in Dhofar and their reduction to a marginal status.     

A gender analysis of quality of life in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

While many community initiatives have attempted to assess the nature and determinants of their citizens’ quality of life (QOL), these initiatives have produced little about whether the key determinants of life quality differ by gender. Using both quantitative and qualitative data from a recent QOL research project in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, this study explores whether factors that predict poor QOL are similar for women and men. The study also examines whether the nature of these gender differences varies across low, medium and high socio-economic status locales. Results showed that men and women were very similar in: (1) their QOL ratings, (2) reports of deterioration in neighborhood QOL, and (3) rating particular aspects of their neighborhood. Few gender differences were also found when analyzing data referring to place characteristics and social cohesion. Multivariate analysis revealed further similarities: (1) being divorced/widowed was a significant predictor of poor QOL, and (2) a negative view of community security issues was associated with deterioration in perceived neighborhood quality of life. For women, however, other variables were important predictors of QOL: being middle aged, being single, and having a poor opinion of the overall quality of their neighborhood. Qualitative analysis revealed that while men and women shared concern about general areas such as safety and neighborhood supports, their perceptions of the details around these issues differed. The multi-method results suggest that urban policy actions should include a gendered discussion of common QOL issues.     

Long-term biogeochemical cycling in agroecosystems inferred from C, C and N

We investigated C and N cycling in long-term agroecological experiments initiated over 50 years ago at a cool, semi-arid site on the North American Great Plains. We used isotopes at natural abundance to trace C and N exchange between soils and plants in contrasting cropping systems. Both ¹³C and ¹⁴C indicated that the soil organic matter was isotopically distinct from current plant inputs, suggesting that recently added plant C was cycling independently of much of the soil C pool. For tracing recent C flows, bomb-¹⁴C was more sensitive than ¹³C, and increased more in high – than in low – yielding systems. Analysis of ¹⁵N in plant tissues, as an index of ¹⁵N in actively cycling soil N, suggested that biological and industrial N fixation both tended to decrease plant ¹⁵N, whereas livestock manure addition increased ¹⁵N abundance. Collectively, the data suggest that soil organic matter is kinetically heterogeneous, so that a majority of soil C and N inputs and outputs exchange with only the small pool of soil organic matter that is actively cycling. Consequently, recently photosynthesized C and deposited N may not readily enter the old, stable fractions of soil organic matter. Practices to retain CO₂ from the atmosphere and prevent leakage of reactive N to non-agricultural systems should therefore focus on management of this active pool.     

Flow of Canadian basin deep water in the Western Eurasian Basin of the Arctic Ocean

The LOMROG 2007 expedition targeted the previously unexplored southern part of the Lomonosov Ridge north of Greenland together with a section from the Morris Jesup Rise to Gakkel Ridge. The oceanographic data show that Canadian Basin Deep Water (CBDW) passes the Lomonosov Ridge in the area of the Intra Basin close to the North Pole and then continues along the ridge towards Greenland and further along its northernmost continental slope. The CBDW is clearly evident as a salinity maximum and oxygen minimum at a depth of about 2000 m. The cross-slope sections at the Amundsen Basin side of the Lomonosov Ridge and further south at the Morris Jesup Rise show a sharp frontal structure higher up in the water column between Makarov Basin water and Amundsen Basin water. The frontal structure continues upward into the Atlantic Water up to a depth of about 300 m. The observed water mass division at levels well above the ridge crest indicates a strong topographic steering of the flow and that different water masses tend to pass the ridge guided by ridge-crossing isobaths at local topographic heights and depressions. A rough scaling analysis shows that the extremely steep and sharply turning bathymetry of the Morris Jesup Rise may force the boundary current to separate and generate deep eddies.     

On the low-frequency transport processes in a shallow coastal lagoon

The low-frequency transport processes in a small, shallow coastal lagoon (Indian River Bay, Delaware) are examined based on a set of data derived from tide gauges, near-bottom current meter measurements, and drifter releases. The subtidal sea-level fluctuations in the interior of the lagoon are forced primarily by the coastal sea-level fluctuations off the mouth of the inlet, which connects the lagoon with the coastal ocean. The effect of local wind plays a secondary role in modifying the coastally forced sea level inside the lagoon. Given the continuity constraint which links sea-level fluctuations to the depth and laterally integrated barotropic transport, the coastal pumping effect would be expected to be the dominant factor in controlling the subtidal barotropic exchange within the bay. However, the dominance of the coastal pumping effect on the barotropic exchange does not readily translate into the dominance of this effect on the transport and distribution of waterborne material in the bay at subtidal frequencies. The observed nearbottom subtidal current fluctuations are not coherent with the coastal sea-level fluctuations. The observed current is also much stronger than the barotropic current inferred from the continuity constraint. This suggests the presence of a depth-dependent flow field, with current in the upper layer fluctuating in opposite direction to that at depth. Furthermore, the observed near-bottom current also shows significant spatial variability within the bay. As for the mean current, the residual flow field shows distinctly different patterns between the surface and the bottom. The residual current at the surface exhibits a consistent mean flow out of the bay. At the bottom, the residual current shows a mean flow into the estuary in the upper part of the lagoon and a spatially variable flow in the lower part of the lagoon. A competition between gravitational circulation and tidally rectified current may contribute to the observed vertical and horizontal variabilities in the residual flow field.     

Sulfur speciation in the upper Black Sea sediments

We report solid phase sulfur speciation of six cores from sediments underlying oxic, suboxic and anoxic-sulfidic waters of the Black Sea. Our dataset includes the five sulfur species [pyrite-sulfur, acid volatile sulfides (AVS), zerovalent sulfur (S(0)), organic polysulfides (RS_x), humic sulfur] together with reactive iron and manganese, as quantified by dithionite extraction, and total organic carbon. Pyrite – sulfur was the major phase in all cores [200-400 µmol (g dry wt)^- 1] except for the suboxic core. However, zerovalent sulfur and humic sulfur also reached very significant levels: up to about 109 and 80 µmol (g dry wt)^- 1, respectively. Humic sulfur enrichment was observed in the surface fluff layers of the eastern central basin sediments where Unit-1 type depositional conditions prevail. Elemental sulfur accumulated as a result of porewater sulfide oxidation by reactive iron oxides in turbidities from the anoxic basin margin and western central basin sediments. The accumulation of elemental sulfur to a level close to that of pyrite-S in any part of central Black Sea sediments has never been reported before and our finding indicates deep basin turbidites prevent the build-up of dissolved sulfide in the sediment. This process also contributes to diagenetic pyrite formation whereas in the non-turbiditic parts of the deep basin water column formed (syngenetic) pyrite dominates the sulfur inventory. In slope sediments under suboxic waters, organic sulfur (humic sulfur + organic polysulfides) account for 33-42% of total solid phase S, indicating that the suboxic conditions favor organosulfur formation. Our study shows that the interactions between depositional patterns (Unit 1 vs. turbidite), redox state of overlying waters (oxic-suboxic-sulfidic) and organic matter content determine sulfur speciation and enable the accumulation of elemental sulfur and organic sulfur species close to a level of pyrite-S.