2. Sediments and Biogeochemistry
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Ph.D. Positions in Biogeochemistry / Environmental Chemistry / Boreal Forest
Ph.D. positions in Biogeochemistry / Environmental chemistry / Boreal forest The Laboratory of Terrestrial Biogeochemistry of the Université de Sherbrooke (Qc, Canada) is seeking for applicants to fill one or two Ph.D positions in Biogeochemistry / Environmental chemistry. Presentation of the University: Located in Canada, in the Province of Quebec, the Université de Sherbrooke is a French- speaking institution that offers you the opportunity to benefit from an academic education that is recognized and valued around the world. The Université de Sherbrooke has been welcoming international students ever since it was founded and each year the numbers increase. Currently, more than 1600 foreign students from 120 countries worldwide attend the Université de Sherbrooke. In Quebec, universities are the only source of higher education. The North-American system is not comprised of grandes écoles or private higher education institutions. North-American universities are considered prestigious establishments and students receive high quality training and recognized diplomas. They can be compared to the European institutes of higher education (grandes écoles) for the quality of education. The Université de Sherbrooke is situated in the southern part of Quebec, 150 km from Montréal, 220 km from Québec City and some 40 km from the American border. http://www.usherbrooke.ca/ Presentation of the Laboratory: The research developed in the Laboratory aims to characterize metal dynamics in soil and its impact on microbial activity with a specific interest for N2 fixing organisms. We are particularly focusing on metal acquisition and use by N2 fixing organisms. Our research relies on a strong expertise in analytical chemistry, associated to solid knowledge in biology and soil sciences. -
Sediment Transport in the San Francisco Bay Coastal System: an Overview
Marine Geology 345 (2013) 3–17 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Marine Geology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/margeo Sediment transport in the San Francisco Bay Coastal System: An overview Patrick L. Barnard a,⁎, David H. Schoellhamer b,c, Bruce E. Jaffe a, Lester J. McKee d a U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Santa Cruz, CA, USA b U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, CA, USA c University of California, Davis, USA d San Francisco Estuary Institute, Richmond, CA, USA article info abstract Article history: The papers in this special issue feature state-of-the-art approaches to understanding the physical processes Received 29 March 2012 related to sediment transport and geomorphology of complex coastal–estuarine systems. Here we focus on Received in revised form 9 April 2013 the San Francisco Bay Coastal System, extending from the lower San Joaquin–Sacramento Delta, through the Accepted 13 April 2013 Bay, and along the adjacent outer Pacific Coast. San Francisco Bay is an urbanized estuary that is impacted by Available online 20 April 2013 numerous anthropogenic activities common to many large estuaries, including a mining legacy, channel dredging, aggregate mining, reservoirs, freshwater diversion, watershed modifications, urban run-off, ship traffic, exotic Keywords: sediment transport species introductions, land reclamation, and wetland restoration. The Golden Gate strait is the sole inlet 9 3 estuaries connecting the Bay to the Pacific Ocean, and serves as the conduit for a tidal flow of ~8 × 10 m /day, in addition circulation to the transport of mud, sand, biogenic material, nutrients, and pollutants. -
The Role of Dust in Climate Change: a Biogeochemistry Perspective Gisela Winckler1, F
92 WORKSHOP REPORT doi.org/10.22498/pages.26.2.92 The role of dust in climate change: A biogeochemistry perspective Gisela Winckler1, F. Lambert2 and E. Shoenfelt1 Las Cruces, Chile, 8-10 January 2018 Mineral-dust aerosols are critically important components of climate and Earth system dynamics as they affect radiative forcing, precipitation, atmospheric chemistry, sur- face albedo of ice sheets, and marine and terrestrial biogeochemistry, over significant portions of the planet. Dust-borne iron is recognized to be an important micronutrient in regulating the magnitude and dynamics of ocean primary productivity and affecting the carbon cycle under past and modern climate conditions. Paleodata suggest large fluctua- tions in atmospheric dust over the geologi- cal past. However, dust-transport models struggle to reproduce observed spatial and temporal dust-flux variability. In addition, ob- servational and modeling studies based in the current climate suggest that not all iron Figure 1: representation of the major processes in the ocean iron cycle from Tagliabue et al. 2017. reprinted by in dust is equally available to continental and permission from Springer Nature. ocean biota. Iron solubility varies dramati- cally, depending on mineralogy and state of emissions, from geochemically identifying that may have been more highly impacted by soils, as well as atmospheric processing by and tracing source regions to deposition in glacier physical weathering, and have been acids. Modeling studies, however, still mostly the surface ocean. Participants discussed the shown to have a different mineral composi- assume constant solubility. effects on the solubility and bioavailability tion as a result. The goal of this effort is to of iron at each of these stations in the dust combine the highly varied range of expertise The PAGES Dust Impact on Climate and cycle, including the influence of dust source to better quantify the bioavailable iron in dif- Environment (DICE) working group held its and mineralogy on dust solubility and bio- ferent dust sources across space and time. -
Progressive and Regressive Soil Evolution Phases in the Anthropocene
Progressive and regressive soil evolution phases in the Anthropocene Manon Bajard, Jérôme Poulenard, Pierre Sabatier, Anne-Lise Develle, Charline Giguet- Covex, Jeremy Jacob, Christian Crouzet, Fernand David, Cécile Pignol, Fabien Arnaud Highlights • Lake sediment archives are used to reconstruct past soil evolution. • Erosion is quantified and the sediment geochemistry is compared to current soils. • We observed phases of greater erosion rates than soil formation rates. • These negative soil balance phases are defined as regressive pedogenesis phases. • During the Middle Ages, the erosion of increasingly deep horizons rejuvenated pedogenesis. Abstract Soils have a substantial role in the environment because they provide several ecosystem services such as food supply or carbon storage. Agricultural practices can modify soil properties and soil evolution processes, hence threatening these services. These modifications are poorly studied, and the resilience/adaptation times of soils to disruptions are unknown. Here, we study the evolution of pedogenetic processes and soil evolution phases (progressive or regressive) in response to human-induced erosion from a 4000-year lake sediment sequence (Lake La Thuile, French Alps). Erosion in this small lake catchment in the montane area is quantified from the terrigenous sediments that were trapped in the lake and compared to the soil formation rate. To access this quantification, soil processes evolution are deciphered from soil and sediment geochemistry comparison. Over the last 4000 years, first impacts on soils are recorded at approximately 1600 yr cal. BP, with the erosion of surface horizons exceeding 10 t·km− 2·yr− 1. Increasingly deep horizons were eroded with erosion accentuation during the Higher Middle Ages (1400–850 yr cal. -
Ecological Biogeochemistry Schedule (September 6, 2005)
2005 Ecological Biogeochemistry Schedule (September 6, 2005) EFB 415 & 610 Time: Monday and Wednesday 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Place: Illick 16 Instructor: M.J. Mitchell Texts: Likens, G.E. and F.H. Bormann. 1995. Biogeochemistry of a Forested Ecosystem. Second Edition. Springer- Verlag, New York. 159 p. Schlesinger, W.H. 1997. Biogeochemistry: an Analysis of Global Change. Second Edition. Academic Press, San Diego, CA. 588 p. SCHEDULE Date Topic Lecturer Readings or Discussion Likens & Schlesinger Other (Subject to Change)1 Bormann Mon., Introduction to Course Mitchell Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Aug. 29 Wed., Major Pools and Processes Mitchell Chapters 2, 3 Chapters 2 & 10 Aug. in Biogeochemistry & 4. 31 Mon., Labor Day, No Class Sept. 5 Wed., Small watershed approach Mitchell Review Church (1997)2, Sept., with special attention to Chapters 1-3. The Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study 7 HBEF. Introduction to (1995)3 student projects and Groffman et al. (2004)4 presentations. Mon., Instrumentation Mitchell Mitchell et al. (2001)5 Sept. 12 Wed., History of Mitchell Gorham (1991)6 Sept. Biogeochemistry 14 Date Topic Lecturer Readings or Discussion Likens & Schlesinger Other (Subject to Change)1 Bormann Mon., Introduction to Carbon Mitchell Chapter 5, Falkowski et al. (2000)7 Sept. Preliminary project topics Chapter 7 (p. Goodale et al. (2002)8 19 due for student proposals. 246-251), Chapter 9 (p. 301-307) Wed., Carbon continued Mitchell Chapter 11 Fahey et al. (2005)9 Sept. Raymond and Cole (2003)10 21 Mon., Discussion on carbon and Mitchell Field and Fung (1999)11 Sept. global change. -
Sediment and Sedimentary Rocks
Sediment and sedimentary rocks • Sediment • From sediments to sedimentary rocks (transportation, deposition, preservation and lithification) • Types of sedimentary rocks (clastic, chemical and organic) • Sedimentary structures (bedding, cross-bedding, graded bedding, mud cracks, ripple marks) • Interpretation of sedimentary rocks Sediment • Sediment - loose, solid particles originating from: – Weathering and erosion of pre- existing rocks – Chemical precipitation from solution, including secretion by organisms in water Relationship to Earth’s Systems • Atmosphere – Most sediments produced by weathering in air – Sand and dust transported by wind • Hydrosphere – Water is a primary agent in sediment production, transportation, deposition, cementation, and formation of sedimentary rocks • Biosphere – Oil , the product of partial decay of organic materials , is found in sedimentary rocks Sediment • Classified by particle size – Boulder - >256 mm – Cobble - 64 to 256 mm – Pebble - 2 to 64 mm – Sand - 1/16 to 2 mm – Silt - 1/256 to 1/16 mm – Clay - <1/256 mm From Sediment to Sedimentary Rock • Transportation – Movement of sediment away from its source, typically by water, wind, or ice – Rounding of particles occurs due to abrasion during transport – Sorting occurs as sediment is separated according to grain size by transport agents, especially running water – Sediment size decreases with increased transport distance From Sediment to Sedimentary Rock • Deposition – Settling and coming to rest of transported material – Accumulation of chemical -
Descriptions of Common Sedimentary Environments
Descriptions of Common Sedimentary Environments River systems: . Alluvial Fan: a pile of sediment at the base of mountains shaped like a fan. When a stream comes out of the mountains onto the flat plain, it drops its sediment load. The sediment ranges from fine to very coarse angular sediment, including boulders. Alluvial fans are often built by flash floods. River Channel: where the river flows. The channel moves sideways over time. Typical sediments include sand, gravel and cobbles. Particles are typically rounded and sorted. The sediment shows signs of current, such as ripple marks. Flood Plain: where the river overflows periodically. When the river overflows, its velocity decreases rapidly. This means that the coarsest sediment (usually sand) is deposited next to the river, and the finer sediment (silt and clay) is deposited in thin layers farther from the river. Delta: where a stream enters a standing body of water (ocean, bay or lake). As the velocity of the river drops, it dumps its sediment. Over time, the deposits build further and further into the standing body of water. Deltas are complex environments with channels of coarser sediment, floodplain areas of finer sediment, and swamps with very fine sediment and organic deposits (coal) Lake: fresh or alkaline water. Lakes tend to be quiet water environments (except very large lakes like the Great Lakes, which have shorelines much like ocean beaches). Alkaline lakes that seasonally dry up leave evaporite deposits. Most lakes leave clay and silt deposits. Beach, barrier bar: near-shore or shoreline deposits. Beaches are active water environments, and so tend to have coarser sediment (sand, gravel and cobbles). -
Soil Erosion, Runoff, and Sedimentation Construction Site Fact Sheet No
Soil Erosion, Runoff, and Sedimentation Construction Site Fact Sheet No. 1 What Is Soil Erosion? What Problems Happen On Construction Soil erosion is the detachment and movement of soil Sites? particles by water, wind, ice, or gravity. Safety and Nuisance Issues – Sediment on roadways and in the air can cause safety hazards. Flooding– Excessive sediment accumulation in drainage systems can create blockages that promote flooding. Sediment Build‐Up – Sediment that accumulates in streams, lakes, and bays can only be remediated by costly dredging. Increased Costs – Uncontrolled erosion and sedimentation requires costly maintenance and What Is Sedimentation? repair. It is cheaper and easier to PREVENT Sediment is the result of erosion. Sedimentation is erosion than to fix sedimentation problems. the build‐ up of eroded soil particles that are transported in runoff from their site of origin and Negative Public Perception ‐Observing muddy deposited in drainage systems, on other ground water flowing from construction sites negatively surfaces, or in bodies of water or wetlands. effects public perception. Why Should I Care? It’s the Law– Federal, State and local regulations require construction sites to be compliant with the Clean Water Act. Water Quality‐Erosion from construction projects can be a non‐point source pollutant that deteriorates the health of our lakes, streams and Narragansett Bay. Soil Loss ‐ Much of the total sediment loss that occurs each year is generated by highway construction and land development projects. Quality of Life‐ If you enjoy fishing, eating local Sediment‐filled runoff from a RIDOT construction site shellfish or swimming at one of Rhode Island’s beautiful beaches, this pollution can threaten your quality of life. -
The Atom, the Environment and Sustainable Development
The Atom, the Environment and Sustainable Development International Atomic Energy Agency Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100 1400 Vienna, Austria 14-32961 (c) IAEA, 2014 Printed by the IAEA in Austria Printed on FSC certified paper. September 2014 www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets The Atom, the Environment and Sustainable Development Table of Contents Foreword 3 The IAEA and the Environment 5 Understanding the Environment 6 Water and Climate Change 6 Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions 6 Water Quality and Pollutants 7 Ocean Acidification 7 Oceanic Carbon Cycle 8 Marine Organisms: Bioaccumulation of Contaminants 9 Soil-Water-Plant Systems 9 Soil Erosion 10 Agriculture and Climate Change 10 Nitrogen Sources in Agriculture 11 Animal Digestion 11 Livestock Genomes 12 Behaviour of Radionuclides in the Environment 13 Protecting People and the Environment 15 Setting the Standard 15 Clean Technology 15 Biogas Technology 16 Sustainable Base-Load Power Generation 16 Managing Discharges from Radiological Sources 16 Harmful Algal Blooms and Seafood Safety 17 Pesticides and Biological Control Agents 18 Invasive Pests and Food Waste 19 Mutation Breeding 19 Monitoring the Environment and Contaminants 21 Improving Capacity to Monitor Environmental Contaminants 21 Environmental Monitoring Networks 23 Food Safety 23 Monitoring Radionuclides from Nuclear Facilities and Applications 24 Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management 24 Waste Management from Nuclear Accidents 25 Environmental Remediation 27 Setting the Baseline 27 Building Capacity for Remediation 28 Remediation Technology 28 Conclusion 29 Foreword The IAEA has a broad mandate to facilitate areas mentioned above, nuclear science and nuclear applications in a number of areas and technology can make a particularly valuable scientific disciplines. -
Nanostructure of Biogenic Versus Abiogenic Calcium Carbonate Crystals
Nanostructure of biogenic versus abiogenic calcium carbonate crystals JAROSŁAW STOLARSKI and MACIEJ MAZUR Stolarski, J. and Mazur, M. 2005. Nanostructure of biogenic versus abiogenic calcium carbonate crystals. Acta Palae− ontologica Polonica 50 (4): 847–865. The mineral phase of the aragonite skeletal fibers of extant scleractinians (Favia, Goniastrea) examined with Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) consists entirely of grains ca. 50–100 nm in diameter separated from each other by spaces of a few nanometers. A similar pattern of nanograin arrangement was observed in basal calcite skeleton of extant calcareous sponges (Petrobiona) and aragonitic extant stylasterid coralla (Adelopora). Aragonite fibers of the fossil scleractinians: Neogene Paracyathus (Korytnica, Poland), Cretaceous Rennensismilia (Gosau, Austria), Trochocyathus (Black Hills, South Dakota, USA), Jurassic Isastraea (Ostromice, Poland), and unidentified Triassic tropiastraeid (Alpe di Specie, It− aly) are also nanogranular, though boundaries between individual grains occasionally are not well resolved. On the other hand, in diagenetically altered coralla (fibrous skeleton beside aragonite bears distinct calcite signals) of the Triassic cor− als from Alakir Cay, Turkey (Pachysolenia), a typical nanogranular pattern is not recognizable. Also aragonite crystals produced synthetically in sterile environment did not exhibit a nanogranular pattern. Unexpectedly, nanograins were rec− ognized in some crystals of sparry calcite regarded as abiotically precipitated. Our findings support the idea that nanogranular organization of calcium carbonate fibers is not, per se, evidence of their biogenic versus abiogenic origin or their aragonitic versus calcitic composition but rather, a feature of CaCO3 formed in an aqueous solution in the presence of organic molecules that control nanograin formation. Consistent orientation of crystalographic axes of polycrystalline skeletal fibers in extant or fossil coralla, suggests that nanograins are monocrystalline and crystallographically ordered (at least after deposition). -
Strategies for the Simulation of Sea Ice Organic Chemistry: Arctic Tests and Development
geosciences Article Strategies for the Simulation of Sea Ice Organic Chemistry: Arctic Tests and Development Scott Elliott 1,*, Nicole Jeffery 1, Elizabeth Hunke 1, Clara Deal 2, Meibing Jin 2 ID , Shanlin Wang 1, Emma Elliott Smith 3 and Samantha Oestreicher 4 1 Climate Ocean Sea Ice Modeling (COSIM), Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA; [email protected] (N.J.); [email protected] (E.H.); [email protected] (S.W.) 2 International Arctic Research Center and University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA; [email protected] (C.D.), [email protected] (M.J.) 3 Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; [email protected] 4 Applied Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-505-606-0118 Received: 11 April 2017; Accepted: 21 June 2017; Published: 14 July 2017 Abstract: A numerical mechanism connecting ice algal ecodynamics with the buildup of organic macromolecules is tested within modeled pan-Arctic brine channels. The simulations take place offline in a reduced representation of sea ice geochemistry. Physical driver quantities derive from the global sea ice code CICE, including snow cover, thickness and internal temperature. The framework is averaged over ten boreal biogeographic zones. Computed nutrient-light-salt limited algal growth supports grazing, mortality and carbon flow. Vertical transport is diffusive but responds to pore structure. Simulated bottom layer chlorophyll maxima are reasonable, though delayed by about a month relative to observations due to uncertainties in snow variability. Upper level biota arise intermittently during flooding events. -
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks • a rock resulting from the consolidation of loose sediment that has been derived from previously existing rocks • a rock formed by the precipitation of minerals from solution Sedimentary Stages of the Rock Cycle Weathering Erosion Transportation Deposition (sedimentation) Burial Diagenesis Fig. 5.1 1 Table 5.1 Sorting Fig 5.2 Transport will effect the sediment in several ways Sorting:Sorting a measure of the variation in the range of grain sizes in a rock or sediment • Well-sorted sediments have been subjected to prolonged water or wind action. • Poorly-sorted sediments are either not far- removed from their source or deposited by glaciers. 2 Fig. 5.3 Sedimentary Environments Fig. Story 5.5 Table 5.2 3 Sedimentary Structures Stratification = Bedding = Layering This layering that produces sedimentary structures is due to: • Particle size • Types (s) of particles Sedimentary Layering Other Examples of Sedimentary Structures • Cross-beds • Ripple marks • Mudcracks • Raindrop impressions • Fossils 4 Cross-bedded sandstone Fig. 5.6 Fig. 5.7 Ripples on a beach Fig. 5.8 5 Ripples Preserved in Sandstone Fig. 5.9 Fig. 5.9 6 Fig. 5.10 Turbidity Currents Suspension of water sand, and mud that moves downslope (often very rapidly) due to its greater density that the surrounding water (often triggered by earthquakes). The speed of turbidity currents was first appreciated in 1920 when a current broke lines in the Atlantic. This event also demonstrated just how far a single deposit could travel. From Sediment to Sedimentary Sock (lithification) • Compaction:Compaction reduces pore space. clays and muds are up to 60 % water; 10% after compaction • Cementation:Cementation chemical precipitation of mineral material between grains (SiO2, CaCO3, Fe2O3) binds sediment into hard rock.