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Hydrothermal Vents. Teacher's Notes
Hydrothermal Vents Hydrothermal Vents. Teacher’s notes. A hydrothermal vent is a fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated water issues. They are usually volcanically active. Seawater penetrates into fissures of the volcanic bed and interacts with the hot, newly formed rock in the volcanic crust. This heated seawater (350-450°) dissolves large amounts of minerals. The resulting acidic solution, containing metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) and large amounts of reduced sulfur and compounds such as sulfides and H2S, percolates up through the sea floor where it mixes with the cold surrounding ocean water (2-4°) forming mineral deposits and different types of vents. In the resulting temperature gradient, these minerals provide a source of energy and nutrients to chemoautotrophic organisms that are, thus, able to live in these extreme conditions. This is an extreme environment with high pressure, steep temperature gradients, and high concentrations of toxic elements such as sulfides and heavy metals. Black and white smokers Some hydrothermal vents form a chimney like structure that can be as 60m tall. They are formed when the minerals that are dissolved in the fluid precipitates out when the super-heated water comes into contact with the freezing seawater. The minerals become particles with high sulphur content that form the stack. Black smokers are very acidic typically with a ph. of 2 (around that of vinegar). A black smoker is a type of vent found at depths typically below 3000m that emit a cloud or black material high in sulphates. White smokers are formed in a similar way but they emit lighter-hued minerals, for example barium, calcium and silicon. -
Introduction to Co2 Chemistry in Sea Water
INTRODUCTION TO CO2 CHEMISTRY IN SEA WATER Andrew G. Dickson Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii Monthly Average Carbon Dioxide Concentration Data from Scripps CO Program Last updated August 2016 2 ? 410 400 390 380 370 2008; ~385 ppm 360 350 Concentration (ppm) 2 340 CO 330 1974; ~330 ppm 320 310 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Year EFFECT OF ADDING CO2 TO SEA WATER 2− − CO2 + CO3 +H2O ! 2HCO3 O C O CO2 1. Dissolves in the ocean increase in decreases increases dissolved CO2 carbonate bicarbonate − HCO3 H O O also hydrogen ion concentration increases C H H 2. Reacts with water O O + H2O to form bicarbonate ion i.e., pH = –lg [H ] decreases H+ and hydrogen ion − HCO3 and saturation state of calcium carbonate decreases H+ 2− O O CO + 2− 3 3. Nearly all of that hydrogen [Ca ][CO ] C C H saturation Ω = 3 O O ion reacts with carbonate O O state K ion to form more bicarbonate sp (a measure of how “easy” it is to form a shell) M u l t i p l e o b s e r v e d indicators of a changing global carbon cycle: (a) atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) from Mauna Loa (19°32´N, 155°34´W – red) and South Pole (89°59´S, 24°48´W – black) since 1958; (b) partial pressure of dissolved CO2 at the ocean surface (blue curves) and in situ pH (green curves), a measure of the acidity of ocean water. -
MIMOC: a Global Monthly Isopycnal Upper-Ocean Climatology with Mixed Layers*
1 * 1 MIMOC: A Global Monthly Isopycnal Upper-Ocean Climatology with Mixed Layers 2 3 Sunke Schmidtko1,2, Gregory C. Johnson1, and John M. Lyman1,3 4 5 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Marine Environmental 6 Laboratory, Seattle, Washington 7 2University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich, United 8 Kingdom 9 3Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 10 Honolulu, Hawaii 11 12 Accepted for publication in 13 Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans. 14 Copyright 2013 American Geophysical Union. Further reproduction or electronic 15 distribution is not permitted. 16 17 8 February 2013 18 19 ______________________________________ 20 *Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory Contribution Number 3805 21 22 Corresponding Author: Sunke Schmidtko, School of Environmental Sciences, University 23 of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK. Email: [email protected] 2 24 Abstract 25 26 A Monthly, Isopycnal/Mixed-layer Ocean Climatology (MIMOC), global from 0–1950 27 dbar, is compared with other monthly ocean climatologies. All available quality- 28 controlled profiles of temperature (T) and salinity (S) versus pressure (P) collected by 29 conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) instruments from the Argo Program, Ice-Tethered 30 Profilers, and archived in the World Ocean Database are used. MIMOC provides maps 31 of mixed layer properties (conservative temperature, Θ, Absolute Salinity, SA, and 32 maximum P) as well as maps of interior ocean properties (Θ, SA, and P) to 1950 dbar on 33 isopycnal surfaces. A third product merges the two onto a pressure grid spanning the 34 upper 1950 dbar, adding more familiar potential temperature (θ) and practical salinity (S) 35 maps. -
Causes of Sea Level Rise
FACT SHEET Causes of Sea OUR COASTAL COMMUNITIES AT RISK Level Rise What the Science Tells Us HIGHLIGHTS From the rocky shoreline of Maine to the busy trading port of New Orleans, from Roughly a third of the nation’s population historic Golden Gate Park in San Francisco to the golden sands of Miami Beach, lives in coastal counties. Several million our coasts are an integral part of American life. Where the sea meets land sit some of our most densely populated cities, most popular tourist destinations, bountiful of those live at elevations that could be fisheries, unique natural landscapes, strategic military bases, financial centers, and flooded by rising seas this century, scientific beaches and boardwalks where memories are created. Yet many of these iconic projections show. These cities and towns— places face a growing risk from sea level rise. home to tourist destinations, fisheries, Global sea level is rising—and at an accelerating rate—largely in response to natural landscapes, military bases, financial global warming. The global average rise has been about eight inches since the centers, and beaches and boardwalks— Industrial Revolution. However, many U.S. cities have seen much higher increases in sea level (NOAA 2012a; NOAA 2012b). Portions of the East and Gulf coasts face a growing risk from sea level rise. have faced some of the world’s fastest rates of sea level rise (NOAA 2012b). These trends have contributed to loss of life, billions of dollars in damage to coastal The choices we make today are critical property and infrastructure, massive taxpayer funding for recovery and rebuild- to protecting coastal communities. -
Trophic Diversity of Plankton in the Epipelagic and Mesopelagic Layers of the Tropical and Equatorial Atlantic Determined with Stable Isotopes
diversity Article Trophic Diversity of Plankton in the Epipelagic and Mesopelagic Layers of the Tropical and Equatorial Atlantic Determined with Stable Isotopes Antonio Bode 1,* ID and Santiago Hernández-León 2 1 Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de A Coruña, Apdo 130, 15080 A Coruña, Spain 2 Instituto de Oceanografía y Cambio Global (IOCAG), Universidad de las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Taliarte, Telde, Gran Canaria, 35214 Islas Canarias, Spain; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +34-981205362 Received: 30 April 2018; Accepted: 12 June 2018; Published: 13 June 2018 Abstract: Plankton living in the deep ocean either migrate to the surface to feed or feed in situ on other organisms and detritus. Planktonic communities in the upper 800 m of the tropical and equatorial Atlantic were studied using the natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes to identify their food sources and trophic diversity. Seston and zooplankton (>200 µm) samples were collected with Niskin bottles and MOCNESS nets, respectively, in the epipelagic (0–200 m), upper mesopelagic (200–500 m), and lower mesopelagic layers (500–800 m) at 11 stations. Food sources for plankton in the productive zone influenced by the NW African upwelling and the Canary Current were different from those in the oligotrophic tropical and equatorial zones. In the latter, zooplankton collected during the night in the mesopelagic layers was enriched in heavy nitrogen isotopes relative to day samples, supporting the active migration of organisms from deep layers. Isotopic niches showed also zonal differences in size (largest in the north), mean trophic diversity (largest in the tropical zone), food sources, and the number of trophic levels (largest in the equatorial zone). -
Impact of the Pycnocline Layer on Bacterioplankton
MARINE ECOLOGY - PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 38: 295403, 1987 Published July 13 Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. l Impact of the pycnocline layer on bacterioplankton: diel and spatial variations in microbial parameters in the stratified water column of the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea) Gerhard J. ~erndl'& Vlado ~alaCiC~ ' Institute for Zoology. University of Vienna. Althanstr. 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Marine Biology Station Piran, Cesta JLA 65, YU-66330 Piran. Yugoslavia ABSTRACT: Die1 variations in bacterial density, frequency of bvidlng cells (FDC) and bssolved organic carbon (DOC) in the stratified water column of the Gulf of Trieste were investigated at various depths. In the surface layers morning and afternoon DOC peaks (up to 10 mg I-') were observed in 3 out of 4 diel cycles. Bacterial abundance remained fairly constant over the diel cycles; however, bacterial activity as measured by FDC showed pronounced peaks in late afternoon and dawn coinciding with the DOC maximum concentrations. The pycnocline layer exhibited DOC concentrations similar to those of the overlying waters. The frequency of dividing cells (FDC), however, remained high throughout the entire diel cycle. The observed pronounced diel variations in bacterial production were therefore largely restricted to the layers well above the pycnocline; bacterial production contributed less than 20 % to the overall diel production (500 to 1000 pg C 1-' d-') in the uppermost 5 m water body. Highest diel production was found in the pycnocline layer at the end of the phytoplankton bloom (June and July) probably reflecting the formation of nutrient-enriched microzones around decaying phytoplankton cells due to reduced sinking velocities in the pycnocline layer. -
Dispersion in the Open Ocean Seasonal Pycnocline at Scales of 1–10Km and 1–6 Days
FEBRUARY 2020 S U N D E R M E Y E R E T A L . 415 Dispersion in the Open Ocean Seasonal Pycnocline at Scales of 1–10km and 1–6 days a MILES A. SUNDERMEYER AND DANIEL A. BIRCH University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts JAMES R. LEDWELL Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts b MURRAY D. LEVINE, STEPHEN D. PIERCE, AND BRANDY T. KUEBEL CERVANTES Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon (Manuscript received 23 January 2019, in final form 14 November 2019) ABSTRACT Results are presented from two dye release experiments conducted in the seasonal thermocline of the 2 2 Sargasso Sea, one in a region of low horizontal strain rate (;10 6 s 1), the second in a region of intermediate 2 2 horizontal strain rate (;10 5 s 1). Both experiments lasted ;6 days, covering spatial scales of 1–10 and 1–50 km for the low and intermediate strain rate regimes, respectively. Diapycnal diffusivities estimated from 26 2 21 2 21 the two experiments were kz 5 (2–5) 3 10 m s , while isopycnal diffusivities were kH 5 (0.2–3) m s , with the range in kH being less a reflection of site-to-site variability, and more due to uncertainties in the background strain rate acting on the patch combined with uncertain time dependence. The Site I (low strain) experiment exhibited minimal stretching, elongating to approximately 10 km over 6 days while maintaining a width of ;5 km, and with a notable vertical tilt in the meridional direction. By contrast, the Site II (inter- mediate strain) experiment exhibited significant stretching, elongating to more than 50 km in length and advecting more than 150 km while still maintaining a width of order 3–5 km. -
Microbiology of Seamounts Is Still in Its Infancy
or collective redistirbution of any portion of this article by photocopy machine, reposting, or other means is permitted only with the approval of The approval portionthe ofwith any articlepermitted only photocopy by is of machine, reposting, this means or collective or other redistirbution This article has This been published in MOUNTAINS IN THE SEA Oceanography MICROBIOLOGY journal of The 23, Number 1, a quarterly , Volume OF SEAMOUNTS Common Patterns Observed in Community Structure O ceanography ceanography S BY DAVID EmERSON AND CRAIG L. MOYER ociety. © 2010 by The 2010 by O ceanography ceanography O ceanography ceanography ABSTRACT. Much interest has been generated by the discoveries of biodiversity InTRODUCTION S ociety. ociety. associated with seamounts. The volcanically active portion of these undersea Microbial life is remarkable for its resil- A mountains hosts a remarkably diverse range of unusual microbial habitats, from ience to extremes of temperature, pH, article for use and research. this copy in teaching to granted ll rights reserved. is Permission S ociety. ociety. black smokers rich in sulfur to cooler, diffuse, iron-rich hydrothermal vents. As and pressure, as well its ability to persist S such, seamounts potentially represent hotspots of microbial diversity, yet our and thrive using an amazing number or Th e [email protected] to: correspondence all end understanding of the microbiology of seamounts is still in its infancy. Here, we of organic or inorganic food sources. discuss recent work on the detection of seamount microbial communities and the Nowhere are these traits more evident observation that specific community groups may be indicative of specific geochemical than in the deep ocean. -
A Review of Ocean/Sea Subsurface Water Temperature Studies from Remote Sensing and Non-Remote Sensing Methods
water Review A Review of Ocean/Sea Subsurface Water Temperature Studies from Remote Sensing and Non-Remote Sensing Methods Elahe Akbari 1,2, Seyed Kazem Alavipanah 1,*, Mehrdad Jeihouni 1, Mohammad Hajeb 1,3, Dagmar Haase 4,5 and Sadroddin Alavipanah 4 1 Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Tehran 1417853933, Iran; [email protected] (E.A.); [email protected] (M.J.); [email protected] (M.H.) 2 Department of Climatology and Geomorphology, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar 9617976487, Iran 3 Department of Remote Sensing and GIS, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 1983963113, Iran 4 Department of Geography, Humboldt University of Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin, Germany; [email protected] (D.H.); [email protected] (S.A.) 5 Department of Computational Landscape Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ, 04318 Leipzig, Germany * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +98-21-6111-3536 Received: 3 October 2017; Accepted: 16 November 2017; Published: 14 December 2017 Abstract: Oceans/Seas are important components of Earth that are affected by global warming and climate change. Recent studies have indicated that the deeper oceans are responsible for climate variability by changing the Earth’s ecosystem; therefore, assessing them has become more important. Remote sensing can provide sea surface data at high spatial/temporal resolution and with large spatial coverage, which allows for remarkable discoveries in the ocean sciences. The deep layers of the ocean/sea, however, cannot be directly detected by satellite remote sensors. -
Nutrient Dynamics with Groundwater–Seawater Interactions in a Beach Slope of a Steep Island, Western Japan
150 A New Focus on Groundwater–Seawater Interactions (Proceedings of Symposium HS1001 at IUGG2007, Perugia, July 2007). IAHS Publ. 312, 2007. Nutrient dynamics with groundwater–seawater interactions in a beach slope of a steep island, western Japan SHIN-ICHI ONODERA1, MITSUYO SAITO2, MASAKI HAYASHI2 & MISA SAWANO1 1 Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 7398521, Japan [email protected] 2 Graduate School of Biosphere Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-7-1, Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 7398521, Japan Abstract To confirm the semi-diurnal and seasonal variation in nutrient flux with the dynamics in groundwater–seawater interaction, we conducted intensive observations at 25 piezometers in a tidal flat over a distance of 100 m across a steep-sloped island. Based on the chloride balance, groundwater was very - well-mixed with seawater under the tidal flat. Nitrate-nitrogen (NO3 -N) concentrations declined from >20 to near 0 mg L-1 along the groundwater flowpath from the hillslope to the tidal flat. In addition, nitrate concentrations in pore water of the tidal flat were lower (at 0.1 mg L-1) than in seawater. - These results suggest that the reduction process of NO3 -N occurred in both contaminated groundwater and seawater. Discharge of inorganic nitrogen by groundwater was confirmed offshore. The suspected source was nitrogen mineralization of organic compounds and seawater recirculation. Phosphorus was produced offshore and transported from the land area. Seasonal variations in nutrient dynamics at the tidal flat were also confirmed. Key words nutrient dynamics; groundwater; recirculated seawater; nitrate contamination INTRODUCTION Eutrophication and associated red tides in estuaries and inland seas are one of the critical environmental issues of this century. -
Recent Developments of Exploration and Detection of Shallow-Water Hydrothermal Systems
sustainability Article Recent Developments of Exploration and Detection of Shallow-Water Hydrothermal Systems Zhujun Zhang 1, Wei Fan 1, Weicheng Bao 1, Chen-Tung A Chen 2, Shuo Liu 1,3 and Yong Cai 3,* 1 Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316000, China; [email protected] (Z.Z.); [email protected] (W.F.); [email protected] (W.B.); [email protected] (S.L.) 2 Institute of Marine Geology and Chemistry, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan; [email protected] 3 Ocean Research Center of Zhoushan, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316000, China * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 21 August 2020; Accepted: 29 October 2020; Published: 2 November 2020 Abstract: A hydrothermal vent system is one of the most unique marine environments on Earth. The cycling hydrothermal fluid hosts favorable conditions for unique life forms and novel mineralization mechanisms, which have attracted the interests of researchers in fields of biological, chemical and geological studies. Shallow-water hydrothermal vents located in coastal areas are suitable for hydrothermal studies due to their close relationship with human activities. This paper presents a summary of the developments in exploration and detection methods for shallow-water hydrothermal systems. Mapping and measuring approaches of vents, together with newly developed equipment, including sensors, measuring systems and water samplers, are included. These techniques provide scientists with improved accuracy, efficiency or even extended data types while studying shallow-water hydrothermal systems. Further development of these techniques may provide new potential for hydrothermal studies and relevant studies in fields of geology, origins of life and astrobiology. -
Lecture 4: OCEANS (Outline)
LectureLecture 44 :: OCEANSOCEANS (Outline)(Outline) Basic Structures and Dynamics Ekman transport Geostrophic currents Surface Ocean Circulation Subtropicl gyre Boundary current Deep Ocean Circulation Thermohaline conveyor belt ESS200A Prof. Jin -Yi Yu BasicBasic OceanOcean StructuresStructures Warm up by sunlight! Upper Ocean (~100 m) Shallow, warm upper layer where light is abundant and where most marine life can be found. Deep Ocean Cold, dark, deep ocean where plenty supplies of nutrients and carbon exist. ESS200A No sunlight! Prof. Jin -Yi Yu BasicBasic OceanOcean CurrentCurrent SystemsSystems Upper Ocean surface circulation Deep Ocean deep ocean circulation ESS200A (from “Is The Temperature Rising?”) Prof. Jin -Yi Yu TheThe StateState ofof OceansOceans Temperature warm on the upper ocean, cold in the deeper ocean. Salinity variations determined by evaporation, precipitation, sea-ice formation and melt, and river runoff. Density small in the upper ocean, large in the deeper ocean. ESS200A Prof. Jin -Yi Yu PotentialPotential TemperatureTemperature Potential temperature is very close to temperature in the ocean. The average temperature of the world ocean is about 3.6°C. ESS200A (from Global Physical Climatology ) Prof. Jin -Yi Yu SalinitySalinity E < P Sea-ice formation and melting E > P Salinity is the mass of dissolved salts in a kilogram of seawater. Unit: ‰ (part per thousand; per mil). The average salinity of the world ocean is 34.7‰. Four major factors that affect salinity: evaporation, precipitation, inflow of river water, and sea-ice formation and melting. (from Global Physical Climatology ) ESS200A Prof. Jin -Yi Yu Low density due to absorption of solar energy near the surface. DensityDensity Seawater is almost incompressible, so the density of seawater is always very close to 1000 kg/m 3.