Nankai Trough, Japan Trench and Kuril Trench: geochemistry of fluids sampled by submersible <i>Nautile</i>

Deep-water samples collected during the Kaiko project are often associated with biological communities located on geological structures favorable to fluid venting. The evidence of fluid venting are the temperature anomalies, the decrease in sulfate concentrations, the content in methane and the lowC1(C2 +C3) ratio of light hydrocarbons. Because of large dilution by ambiant seawater during sampling it is difficult to compute the composition of the advected end-member pore fluid. Part of this fluid should originate in the “petroleum window”, i.e. at temperature about 60°C. Modeling the upward flow of water, taking into account the anomalies of temperature measured on the seafloor and the geochemical anomalies, leads to non-steady-state advection of the pore fluid. The occurrence of a deep component in the fluid has implications for the geological and tectonic models of the subduction zones off Japan

A note on the fluxes of abiogenic methane and hydrogen from mid-ocean ridges

The concentrations of methane and hydrogen in hydrothermal vent fluids issuing from mid-ocean ridges tend to fall into two groups, one with high concentrations of these gases in ultramafic-hosted vent fields and a second group with relatively lower concentrations in basalt-hosted vent fluids. Ultramafic-hosted systems, however, appear to be restricted to slow-spreading ridges and constitute only a fraction of the hydrothermal systems found there. In this note, the hydrothermal fluxes of methane and hydrogen have been calculated by estimating the percentages of the total subsurface hydrothermal circulation that circulate through each type of host rock. Even though the percentage of the total subsurface flow that is affected by serpentinization appears to be rather small (8%), it still appears that this process produces about 70% of the total mid-ocean flux of these gases. The total production of methane and hydrogen is calculated to be about 20 x 10(9) mol yr(-1) and 190 x 10(9) mol yr(-1), respectively. The hydrogen flux is comparable to that most recently calculated on the basis of the rate of hydration of mantle rock in newly formed crust and the stoichiometry of the serpentinization reaction. This suggests that, except for the production of methane, a major portion of the hydrogen produced in the subsurface is not consumed before venting

Isotope fractionation and mixing in methane plumes from the Logatchev hydrothermal field

As methane is consumed in the deep sea, its 13C/12C ratio progressively increases because of kinetic isotope fractionation. Many submarine hydrothermal vents emit methane with carbon isotope ratios that are higher than those of background methane in the surrounding ocean. Since the latter exists at low concentrations, mixing of background methane with vent fluid tends to decrease the 13C/12C ratio as concentration decreases, opposite to the trend produced by consumption. We investigated CH4 concentration and δ13C together with δ3He in plumes from the Logatchev hydrothermal field (LHF) located at 14°45′N, 45°W, which generates relatively heavy methane (δ13C ≈ −13‰) by serpentinization of ultramafic rock. The measured methane and δ3He were well correlated at high concentrations, indicating a CH4/3He ratio of 1 × 108 in the vent fluids. These tracer distributions were also simulated with an advection-diffusion model in which methane consumption only occurs above a certain threshold concentration. We utilized δ3He to calculate the methane remaining in solution after oxidation, f, and the deviation of δ13C from the value expected from mixing alone, Δδ13C. Both in the model and in the data, the entire set of Δδ13C values are not correlated with log f, which is due to continuous oxidation within the plume while mixing with background seawater. A linear relationship, however, is found in the model for methane at concentrations sufficiently above background, and many of the samples with elevated CH4 north of LHF exhibit a linear trend of Δδ13C versus log f as well. From this trend, the kinetic isotope fractionation factor in the LHF plumes appears to be about 1.015. This value is somewhat higher than found in some other deep-sea studies, but it is lower than found in laboratory incubation experiments

Methane in the Baltic and North Seas and a reassessment of the marine emissions of methane

During three measurement campaigns on the Baltic and North Seas, atmospheric and dissolved methane was determined with an automated gas chromatographic system. Area-weighted mean saturation values in the sea surface waters were 113 ± 5% and 395 ± 82% (Baltic Sea, February and July 1992) and 126 ± 8% (south central North Sea, September 1992). On the bases of our data and a compilation of literature data the global oceanic emissions of methane were reassessed by introducing a concept of regional gas transfer coefficients. Our estimates computed with two different air-sea exchange models lie in the range of 11-18 Tg CH4 yr-1. Despite the fact that shelf areas and estuaries only represent a small part of the world's ocean they contribute about 75% to the global oceanic emissions. We applied a simple, coupled, three-layer model to numerically simulate the time dependent variation of the oceanic flux to the atmosphere. The model calculations indicate that even with increasing tropospheric methane concentration, the ocean will remain a source of atmospheric methane

Isolation and physiological characterization of two novel, piezophilic, thermophilic chemolithoautotrophs from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney

The definitive version is available at ww3.interscience.wiley.com. En libre-accès sur Archimer : http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2009/publication-6652.pdfInternational audienceTwo novel, thermophilic piezophiles, capable of chemolithoautotrophic growth, are successfully cultivated and isolated from a black smoker chimney at the TAG field (Mid Atlantic Ridge: MAR) by using a piezophilic cultivation technique. Both strains (strains 106 and 108) represent dominant cultivated populations of the microbial communities in the chimney surface habitat. Strain 106 represents typically thin, long spiral cells under the piezophilic growth condition but short bent cells under the non-piezophilic condition. It is a strictly chemolithoautotrophic gammaproteobacterium using reduced sulfur compounds as the electron donors, and nitrate and O(2) as the electron acceptors. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain 106 would represent a novel genus of the previously uncultivated group (Symbiont Group I; a potentially novel family) within the Gammaproteobacteria, and 'Thioprofundum lithotrophica' gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. Strain 108 is a short, oval rod at any of the growth pressures. It is a facultative chemoautotroph, capable of both chemolithoautotrophic growth with H(2) and S oxidations and organotrophic growth with complex organics or organic acids using nitrate and O(2) as the electron acceptors. The chemolithoautotrophic growth is strictly piezophilic and under the organotrophic growth condition, it grows at conventional pressures (0.1 MPa). Strain 108 is phylogenetically distinctive from any of the previously described genera of the family Rhodobacteraceae within the Alphaproteobacteria, and 'Piezobacter thermophilus' gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The piezophilic cultivation technique can be a powerful tool to isolate and characterize the previously uncultivated phylotypes in the deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments

A primordial origin for the atmospheric methane of Saturn's moon Titan

The origin of Titan's atmospheric methane is a key issue for understanding the origin of the Saturnian satellite system. It has been proposed that serpentinization reactions in Titan's interior could lead to the formation of the observed methane. Meanwhile, alternative scenarios suggest that methane was incorporated in Titan's planetesimals before its formation. Here, we point out that serpentinization reactions in Titan's interior are not able to reproduce the deuterium over hydrogen (D/H) ratio observed at present in methane in its atmosphere, and would require a maximum D/H ratio in Titan's water ice 30% lower than the value likely acquired by the satellite during its formation, based on Cassini observations at Enceladus. Alternatively, production of methane in Titan's interior via radiolytic reactions with water can be envisaged but the associated production rates remain uncertain. On the other hand, a mechanism that easily explains the presence of large amounts of methane trapped in Titan in a way consistent with its measured atmospheric D/H ratio is its direct capture in the satellite's planetesimals at the time of their formation in the solar nebula. In this case, the mass of methane trapped in Titan's interior can be up to 1,300 times the current mass of atmospheric methane.Comment: Accepted for publication in Icaru

Environmental Awareness among Secondary Students in Selected Thai and Bilingual Schools in Bangkok, Thailand: Implementation and Integration of Environmental Education Issues

The study aimed to assess the environmental awareness level of higher secondary students in selected Thai and Bilingual Programs in both Public and Private Schools in Bangkok to address the extent of the integration of environmental education into the curriculum using the 30-item Children Environmental Attitude and Knowledge Scale (CHEAKS). There were 7002 participants of the survey. Results showed a weak correlation between students‘ perceived academic achievement and environmental awareness with r = 0.157. The total mean score of environmental awareness is 14.48 with SD = 5.206. It revealed that students are most aware toward 'Animal' issues and least aware toward 'Water'. It showed that Thai Program Schools have higher awareness than Bilingual Program; likewise, Private Schools have higher environmental awareness than Public Schools. Female has higher awareness level over the male. Environmental awareness level varies significantly (favorably) as students accelerate their grade level. Comparison of environmental awareness as a function of type of school, grade level and gender revealed significant differences, thus, hypothesis was rejected

Evidence for intense REE scavenging at cold seeps from the Niger Delta margin

International audienceFor many trace elements, continental margins are the location of intense exchange processes between sediment and seawater, which control their distribution in the water column, but have yet to be fully understood. In this study, we have investigated the impact of fluid seepage at cold seeps on the marine cycle of neodymium. We determined dissolved and total dissolvable (TD) concentrations for REE and well-established tracers of fluid seepage (CH4, TDFe, TDMn), and Nd isotopic compositions in seawater samples collected above cold seeps and a reference site (i.e. away from any fluid venting area) from the Niger Delta margin. We also analyzed cold seep authigenic phases and various core-top sediment fractions (pore water, detrital component, easily leachable phases, uncleaned foraminifera) recovered near the hydrocast stations. Methane, TDFe and TDMn concentrations clearly indicate active fluid venting at the studied seeps, with plumes rising up to about 100 m above the seafloor. Depth profiles show pronounced REE enrichments in the non-filtered samples (TD concentrations) within plumes, whereas filtered samples (dissolved concentrations) exhibit slight REE depletion in plumes relative to the overlying water column and display typical seawater REE patterns. These results suggest that the net flux of REE emitted into seawater at cold seeps is controlled by the presence of particulate phases, most probably Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides associated to resuspended sediments. At the reference site, however, our data reveal significant enrichment for dissolved REE in bottom waters, that clearly relates to diffusive benthic fluxes from surface sediments. Neodymium isotopic ratios measured in the water column range from εNd ~−15.7 to − 10.4. Evidence that the εNd values for Antarctic Intermediate waters (AAIW) differed from those reported for the same water mass at open ocean settings shows that sediment/water interactions take place in the Gulf of Guinea. At each site, however, the bottom water εNd signature generally differs from that for cold seep minerals, easily leachable sediment phases, and detrital fractions from local sediments, ruling out the possibility that seepage of methane-rich fluids and sediment dissolution act as a substantial source of dissolved Nd to seawater in the Gulf of Guinea. Taken together, our data hence suggest that co-precipitation of Fe-Mn oxyhydroxide phases in sub-surface sediments leads to quantitative scavenging of dissolved REE at cold seeps, preventing their emission into bottom waters. Most probably, it is likely that diffusion from suboxic surface sediments dominates the exchange processes affecting the marine Nd cycle at the Niger Delta margin

Controls of bathymetric relief on hydrothermal fluid flow at mid-ocean ridges

We present quantitative modeling results for the effects of surface relief on hydrothermal convection at ocean-spreading centers investigating how vent site locations and subsurface flow patterns are affected by bathymetry induced sub-seafloor pressure variations. The model is based on a 2-D FEM solver for fluid flow in porous media and is used to simulate hydrothermal convection systematically in 375 synthetic studies. The results of these studies show that bathymetric relief has a profound effect on hydrothermal flow: bathymetric highs induce subsurface pressure variations that can deviate upwelling zones and favor venting at structural highs. The deviation angle from vertical upwelling can be expressed by a single linear dependence relating deviation angle to bathymetric slope and depth of the heat source. These findings are confirmed in two case studies for the East Pacific Rise at 9°30′N and Lucky Strike hydrothermal fields. In both cases, it is possible to predict the observed vent field locations only if bathymetry is taken into account. Our results thereby show that bathymetric relief should be considered in simulations of submarine hydrothermal systems and plays a key role especially in focusing venting of across axis hydrothermal flow onto the ridge axis of fast spreading ridges

Nitrate-Dependent Iron Oxidation: A Potential Mars Metabolism

This work considers the hypothetical viability of microbial nitrate-dependent Fe2+ oxidation (NDFO) for supporting simple life in the context of the early Mars environment. This draws on knowledge built up over several decades of remote and in situ observation, as well as recent discoveries that have shaped current understanding of early Mars. Our current understanding is that certain early martian environments fulfill several of the key requirements for microbes with NDFO metabolism. First, abundant Fe2+ has been identified on Mars and provides evidence of an accessible electron donor; evidence of anoxia suggests that abiotic Fe2+ oxidation by molecular oxygen would not have interfered and competed with microbial iron metabolism in these environments. Second, nitrate, which can be used by some iron oxidizing microorganisms as an electron acceptor, has also been confirmed in modern aeolian and ancient sediment deposits on Mars. In addition to redox substrates, reservoirs of both organic and inorganic carbon are available for biosynthesis, and geochemical evidence suggests that lacustrine systems during the hydrologically active Noachian period (4.1–3.7 Ga) match the circumneutral pH requirements of nitrate-dependent iron-oxidizing microorganisms. As well as potentially acting as a primary producer in early martian lakes and fluvial systems, the light-independent nature of NDFO suggests that such microbes could have persisted in sub-surface aquifers long after the desiccation of the surface, provided that adequate carbon and nitrates sources were prevalent. Traces of NDFO microorganisms may be preserved in the rock record by biomineralization and cellular encrustation in zones of high Fe2+ concentrations. These processes could produce morphological biosignatures, preserve distinctive Fe-isotope variation patterns, and enhance preservation of biological organic compounds. Such biosignatures could be detectable by future missions to Mars with appropriate instrumentation