Name four scientific disciplines, which are part of (marine) geology in a broad sense. 6 total
· Sedimentology
à Study of modern sediments such as sand, silt, clay and the processes which lead to their formation (erosion, weathering), transport, deposition and diagenesis. Interpretation of geological history through observations of sedimentary rocks and sedimentary structures
· Tectonics
à Process that controls the structure and properties of the Earth’s crust and its evolution through time. In particular, it describes the processes of mountain building, growth and behavior of strong, old cores of continents known as cratons, and the ways in which the relatively rigid plates that constitute the Earth’s outer shell interact with each other. Plate tectonics describes the large-scale features on Earth’s surface.
· Volcanology
à Study of volcanoes, lava, magma, and related geological, geophysical and geochemical phenomena
· Micro-Paleontology
à Paleontology = study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene (11,700 BP). It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms’ evolution and interactions with each other and their environments (their paleoecology). Fossils are used to age date sediment layers -> stratigraphy
· Bio-Geochemistry
à Geochemistry uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth’s crust and its oceans. In marine biogeochemistry processes and rates of material turnover in the upper sediment column causing changes to the sediment are studied
· Seismology
à Study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through Earth or planet-like bodies. Also includes earthquake effects such as tsunamis as well as seismic sources like volcanic, tectonic, artificial processes. Seismic mapping uses artificial pressure waves to visualize the sub-surface structures on land and in the ocean bottom
Sea floor spreading can be observed at mid ocean ridges. the fact that plates on both sides of a MOR are diverging could be shown with magnetic anomalies. there are fast- and- slow spreading ridges. if you compare the magnetic anomaly patterns "stripes" between a slow-spreading with a fast-spreading ridge, you find:
o the "stripes" are smaller (slow spreading)
à Gibbs free energy of formation + cite reactions in the sediments in increasing order of the Gibbs free energy of formation.
from highest gibbs energy to lowest (from negative to positive) high negative is getting reduced at first
oxygen
nitrate
manganese
iron
sulphate
methane
Oxygen depth penetration: differences between coast/deep? Or between oceans?
- Highest penetration on open ocean, because less pp leads to less OM and high OM leads to anoxic conditions on bottom
- Amount of oxygen: Open ocean > coastal ocean > eutrophic waters > upwelling areas
sources and sink for N
- Sink: in low oxygen conditions: denitrification and anammox (also DNRA)
o Therefore in shallow areas (less oxygen)
- Source: n2 fixation: deep waters
processes that can cause sea-level rise
thermal water expansion
coastal melting of ice
where are most hydrothermal systems located
plate boundaries
along transform faults
à List 4 mechanisms that cause sea level change.
- Ice melting
- Warming waters (expansion)
- Slowing gulf stream
- Sinking land
à What are the six carbonate parameters? How many are necessary to calculate?
only 2
H+
CO2
TA
HCO3-
DIC
CO3 2-
à Where are higher methane and sulfate fluxes?
- Anoxia: when oxygen, nitrate, manganese and iron already reduced
- Also slphides linked to hydrothermalism: massive sulphides: MOT and subduction zoned
amount to pelagic and terrigenous sediment, which one is found in the deep sea, which one the continental shelf?
· Terrigenous: from continents so on continental shelf -> there lays more
· Pelagic: mostly biogenous (calcerous and siliceous) -> deep sea but far less
· General: decrease with increase depth: most on margin/shelf, least in deep sea
à Is the boron isotopes a proxy for pCO2?
yes: most reliable in carbonate for reconstructing pH, DIC and atm pCO2
stable
conservative
Assign rain rate, primary production, burial in sediment, export production to the given weight in tmol/y.
· 800 tmol/y
· 24 tmol/y
· 160 tmol/y
· 4500 tmol/y
· 800 tmol/y Rain
· 24 tmol/y Burial
· 160 tmol/y Export
· 4500 tmol/y PP
- Primary production > Rain rate >export > burial in sediment
à Orbital tuning: what are the orbital processes and their frequencies?
eccentricity: 400 ka and 100 ka
obliquity: 41 ka
axial precession: 23 ka
à What are proxies for past Sea Surface Temperature SST 69
microfossilassemblage transfer function
oxygen isotope in biogenic calcite
mg/Ca in planktonic foraminifers
calcium isotope in planktonic foraminifers
sr/ca in corals
biomarker: alkenones Uk´37
biomarker: TEX 86 (lipids)
explain closing of panama isthmus and consequences
7-3 Ma ago, lead to loss of high temp waters through pacific
caused:
sal contrast between carribbean and east pacific
caribbean warm pool
gulf stream intensification (NW europe heating and increased formation of n antlantic intermediade and deep water mass)
Glaciation of nh:
high evaporation due to gulf stream
freshening of arctic ocean
sea ice formation -> increased albedo
decreased heat exchange between surface and atm -> cooling
burial efficiency of carbon
continental margin
high org content with high sedimentation rate results in high burial efficiency
-> high pp -> high OM
terrigeneous material and nearby also leads to high sedimentation rate
à What does delta 13C or delta 14C really mean? What is subtracted from what?
- Reconstructing seawater carbon budget -> ocean circulation
- 13C isotope composition average in pcean
high DIC = low 13C
changed by suess effect (carbon burning) = 12C more included in corals
à Why does the CCD differ in different ocean basins?
· Because of age differences and different CO2 concentrations:
· Atlantic waters are younger and contain less CO2 than deep waters of the Pacific. Therefore, CaCO3 is better preserved in Atlantic sediments than in Pacific deposits.
· Increasing CO2 leads to shallower CCD (increasing solubility)
What is the sedimentation rate along coasts worldwide?
- Deep sea: less than 30 m/ 10^6 years
- Coast much higher
à What affects sedimentation rates or how/why sedimentation rates change with depth?
- Porosity and density of solid
à Sediments accumulating onthe sea floor mainly consists of carbonate shells, biogenic opal, organic matter and terrigenous material (clay, sand, silt). Which of these components contributes most to the global sediment accumulation (in tonnes per year)?
o Carbonate
o biogenic opal
o organic matter
o RIGHT terrigenous material 13.6 x 10^15 g /yr
à Assign rain rate, primary production, burial in sediment, export production to the given weight in tmol/y.
à Distribution of diamond mines on continents
- 60% 1 Africa. 1.1 Angola. 1.2 Botswana. 1.3 South Africa. 1.4 Others.
- 2 Asia. 2.1 Russia. 2.2 India. 2.3 Indonesia.
- 3 Australia.
- 4 North America. 4.1 Canada. 4.2 United States
à How can you convert methane into a rock? (Questions regarding reaction in general)
vereinfacht
carbonate formation
barite formation
anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM)
à What methodologies can be used for determining the past SST (= sea surface temp)?
· Differing Mg/Ca rates in shells of foraminifers
· Oxygen isotopes (d18O) in biogenic calcite
· Alkenones in Coccolithophores (temperature sensitive partially unsaturated carbon chains)
à What are SO4 incubation experiments used for?
· Radioactive SO4 can be used to determine the rate of Sulphate reduction and therefore turnover in the diagenetic sequence
· Want to have mass/unit volume or area
how is maghma formes
- Magma forms from partial melting of mantle rocks.
- 1. Hydration, heating, decompression
à Which statements are correct?
o Different acoustic data sets (e.g. multibeam bathymetrics and sidescan sonar) can be collected simultaneous
o High resolution seismic images with deep penetration can easily be collected by large sources
o Sound waves are the only means of surveying large regions of the seafloor
o (RIGHT)Different acoustic data sets (e.g. multibeam bathymetrics and sidescan sonar) can be collected simultaneous
o FALSE High resolution seismic images with deep penetration can easily be collected by large sources
o (FALSE)Sound waves are the only means of surveying large regions of the seafloor
à What are typical vent temperatures of hot black smoker systems?
300-400 ° C
- the bicarbonate or carbonate concentration increases through
1. anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM)
2. dissociation of organic matter
- Composed of calcite, low‐Mg calcite, aragonite and even dolomite, MDACform a variety of rocks ranging from pure aragonite, to breccias of clasts of mg‐calcite cemented sediment, micritic cemented slabs or roundish concretions, to dolomitic rocks. Typical are very low 13C isotopic values
- that result from the oxidation of methane as the carbon source.
à Given 3D seismic cube of seafloor and fold à What’s the water depth? What’s the depth below seafloor and megaspline? (2-way travel time)
- D = ct/2
- T = time
- C (or lamda) = velocity
- C = f x v
- F= frequenzy (herz)
- v = wavelength
à How can I get the age from rocks and sediments? (See L05?)
Radiometric Dating methods
Radioactive decay
a) Which of the below mentioned methods/systems can be used for measuring water depth?
o RIGHT Hydroacoustic multibeam systems
o RIGHT Multichannel seismic (used for subsurface, but of course also gives the bottom reflecting layer)
o RIGHT Single beam echosounder
à How is the formation of pillow basalts working during under water volcanism events?
- After lava comes out, it cools quickly under water
- Lack of bubbles in lava suggests that rock crystallized on ocean floor under pressure of deep water shaping the pillow formed bodies
- These can break open to extrude more hot lava
à How do you convert uplifted granite to metamorphic rock?
- Granite is an igneous rock
- When granite is subjected to intense heat and pressure -> deep burial
Sedimentology
à Which kind of evidence did Alfred Wegener assemble for supporting his theory of continental drift?
o Diamond occurrences on continents
o Harz and Ural Mountain chains
o Good fit between South America and African coastline
o Similarity of faunal and floral fossils in South America and Africa
o RIGHT: Good fit between South America and African coastline
o RIGHT: Similarity of faunal and floral fossils in South America and Africa
à What is the fundamental difference between Wegener’s concept of continental drift and modern plate tectonics?
o According to Wegener the continents raised out of the oceanic crust
o In modern plate tectonics the continents are part of the moving plates or form own plates
o According to Wegener the continents were drifting within the oceanic crust
o In modern plate tectonics the continents are in a fixed position and the oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges or destroyed in subduction zones
o RIGHT: In modern plate tectonics the continents are part of the moving plates or form own plates
o RIGHT: According to Wegener the continents were drifting within the oceanic crust
à Composition of continental crust?
· Dykes
· Gabbro
· Pillow basalt
· Massive sulphides
· Granite
a) The diagrams a, b and c below represent three different fault types assign them to the respective fault types:
· a: normal fault
· b: reverse fault/thrust fault
· c: strike slip fault / transform faults
b) Strike slip faults can be classified according to their sense of shear. What is the sense of shear of the fault depicted by fault c) in question 4.a.? (identify if lateral or dextral)
· left lateral faults
à The theory of plate tectonics took a long time to be established. In which century did the theory took hold and name one important scientist supporting this theory.
1912: Alfred wegener: theory of continental drift
Marie Tharp 1960: seafloor spreading
1960: theory of plate tectonics
à Please indicate if setting A and/or B is active or passive, convergent or divergent and accretionary or erosive. In which tectonic setting is the upper plate growing and in which is it shrinking?
· A: active margin, convergent, accretionary, the upper plate is growing due to “scraped” material from the lower plate
· B: active margin, convergent, erosive, the upper plate is shrinking due to erosion, eroded material of the upper plate is “pulled” in, between the plates and finally subducted.
à Which type of rock is associated with the different layers of oceanic crust. Explain the significant differences of the main chemical composition between layer 2A/B, 2C and 3A/B.
· 1: Deep-Sea Sediment
· 2A/B: Basaltic Pillow lavas
· 2C: sheeted dike complex
· 3A: Gabbro
· 3B: Layered Gabbro
· 4: Layered and unlayered peridotite
à There is no CHEMICAL difference between Basalt and Gabbro. It is only the lattice structure, that is differing. This is dependent on how much time they had to form.
Intrusive (gabbro) and extrusive (basalt) igneous rocks
à What are major features on the seafloor providing evidence for the movements of plates?
o Chains of seamounts and volcanic islands
o Upwelling zones
o the mirrored pattern of magnetic polarity preserved in the oceanic crust parallel to mid-ocean ridges
o increasing age of marine sediments with increasing distance from mid-ocean ridge
o Temperature records of the oceanic crust
o RIGHT: Chains of seamounts and volcanic islands
o RIGHT: the mirrored pattern of magnetic polarity preserved in the oceanic crust parallel to mid-ocean ridges
o RIGHT: increasing age of marine sediments with increasing distance from mid-ocean ridge
à Bathymetric maps have mproved since the use of satellite altimetry. Which physical principal is the basis of this technique?
o Temperature
o Density
o Gravity
o Velocity
o RIGHT: Gravity
o RIGHT: Velocity
à What are proper features that make stones (crust) melt? Definitely in exam!
1. Add water -> reducing solid curve
2. Increase temperature
3. Reduce pressure
à Name 5 of the most important cations and anions in the water and their concentration.
· Chlorine 55%
· Na 30.6 %
· Sulfate 7.7 %
· Mg 3.7%
· Ca, K, Sr, Br, HCO3
à Explain the Rock Cycle. (Be able to explain different possibilities to get from one point to another).
· Magma -> intrusive rock formed and stuck in the earth -> uplifted into the atmosphere -> creates an outcrop -> weathering -> grinds down outcrop -> forms a sediment, loose mixture of ground down rock -> transportation into rivers/streams and beaches à forms compacted sediment -> cemented sediment -> sedimentary rock is formed (e.g.: sandstone) -> buried in earth again à heat and pressure recrystalizes -> formation of metamorphic rock -> can form new magma -> constantly happening
à Name 4 of the most common elements on earth.
à What is the chemical difference between Gabro and Basalt?
· No chemical difference!
à At which speed does sound move in water?
· 1500 m/s
à What is the distance of a Nautical Mile?
· 1852 m (1 Knot = 1 Nautical Mile/hour)
Normal mile: 1609 m
à How can the water depth be calculated using hydroacoustic systems?
· D= ct/2
b) What is the most commonly used method to measure water depth for mapping purposes? Explain the principle briefly.
· Multibeam echosounder: emits acoustic pressure waves in a fan shaped way. By forming directional beams, the echosounder can also extract the angle of the returning acoustic pressure wave. The time the acoustic pressure wave needs to travel to the seafloor and ping back is referred to as the two-way travel time and by knowing the sound velocity and TWT, we can calculate the water depth. The resolution is determined by the wavelength, which we can only alter with the acoustic pressure waves frequency, as the velocity in water is fixed.
c) Please note these sound velocities 340m/s, 1500 m/s and 1800 m/s to the three media listed below and explain why they differ. Based on the relevant sound velocity, which approx. water depth is the seafloor for the seismic 3D block from offshore Japan shown below?
· Water: 1500m/s Air: 340m/s Marine sediment: 1800m/s
· Sound velocities are pressure waves. The speed of propagation of a pressure wave is proportional to the density of the medium, in which it propagates. Air has a lower density than water, has a lower density than marine sediments, and therefore, the pressure waves propagate slower in air, than in water, than in marine sediments.
· Two-way travel time is given with 3 seconds. Thus: Depth [m] = sound velocity [m/s]*(TWT [s] / 2) = 1500 m/s * (3s/2) = 2250m is the approximate depth.
à What is a mineral?
· Substance that exists in a solid state under standard conditions temperature and pressure conditions
· must be a natural occurring, inorganic substance
· has a fixed chemical formula
à Explain the Bowens reaction series / What is first to crystallize from magma?
describes the temperature at which minerals crystallize when cooled, or melt when heated
mafic
a: discontinuous -> during each step a new minerals forms : the first silicates to crystallize are olivine, the cooler it gets, the more pyroxene, amphibole and biotite minerals form. (From high temp to low)
rock type defined by amounts of different minerals ?
B: continuous -> -> plagioclase changes elemental composition and no change of minerals (Ca-rich and Na-rich plagioclases)
Intermediate: branches merching together
Felsic: less iron and magnesium, more luminum and potassium -> potassium feldspar, Muscovite
à What ist the BSR: bottom seafloor reflector?
· The lower boundary of gas hydrate containing sediment layer is the BSR (Bottom Simulating Reflector). It is a horizon of strong reflection in seismic profiles due to distinct change density. Clatherates/gas-hydrates are low in density
à What causes the mantle to melt?
Genaue Punkte
· Heating:
à Intrusion of hot melt, frictional heating
à Just increased temperatures, does not happen a lot
· Decompression (isothermal):
à Convective upwelling
à Bring up material, one of the most effective ways!
· Hydration:
à Addition of volatiles reduces the solidus
à What is the average increase of temperature with increasing depth? = What is the av. geothermal gradient?
· On Land: ca. 30 °C per km
· In the Ocean: 60°C per km, or 40°C per km
à These temperature increases only hold true for the curst, if you go deeper, they change
à What is the chemical composition of a foraminifera? What is going on with Ca/Mg?
· Exponential relationship between Mg/Ca and SST.
· Correlation between Mg/Ca and ∂18O-Derived Calcification Temperature ->- Mg/Ca SST closer to Alkenon-biomarker estimates than to ∂18O estimates.
Composition: CaCO3
à Which parameter mainly controls the vertical resolution of a seismic image?
o source energy
o source frequency
o lithology of the sediments
o sound velocity of the sediment
o water depth
o RIGHT: source frequency
o RIGHT: lithology of the sediments
o RIGHT: sound velocity of the sediment
à Which acoustic method would you use to detect sand patches on the sea floor?
o multibeam bathymetry
o multichannel seismics
o sediment echosounder
o sidescan sonar
o RIGHT: sediment echosounder
o RIGHT: sidescan sonar
à Which statements are correct? (multiple)
o different acoustic data sets (e.g. multibeam bathymetry and seismic) can be collected simultaneously
o a seismic source, receivers (hydrphone) and an acquisition unit are the main components of a seismic system
o high resolution seismic images with deep penetration can easily be collected by using large sources
o detailed bathymetry images with a vertical resolution of ~ 10 m can be achieved by using satellite altimetry
o sound waves are the only means of surveying large regions of the seafloor with reasonable accuracy.
o RIGHT: different acoustic data sets (e.g. multibeam bathymetry and seismic) can be collected simultaneously
o RIGHT: a seismic source, receivers (hydrphone) and an acquisition unit are the main components of a seismic system
o RIGHT: sound waves are the only means of surveying large regions of the seafloor with reasonable accuracy.
à Name one of the most common elements on earth crust
· Main ingredient: SiO44-
à Please explain the difference between a shield volcano and a stratovolcano with respect to its form and magma/lava properties. Name one prominent shield volcano and stratovolcano.
· Shield volcano:
à At oceanic islands, continental rift zones (where crust gets thinner through spreading)
à low angle flanks, small top caldera, has rift zones
à mainly basaltic lava flows
à Hawaii island chain
Bsp: Mauna Loa (Hawaii), Fernandina (Galapagos)
· Stratovolcano:
à At Subduction zones, oceanic islands, continental intraplate volcanos (everywhere)
à Surrounded by ring planes of pyroclastic and epiclastic deposits
à Large edifices à steep flanks, often glaciated top, abundant lahars, satellite vents on flanks
à Landslides/edifices collapses occur
à Mostly andesitic, but basaltic to rhyolitic
à Pyroclastic dominates over lavas
Bsp: Krakatoa (Indonesia), Vesuvius (Italy)
à Name the eruption forms and their respective eruption products of the volcanos seen below. Rank eruption forms (there are 5) in their order of explosivity.
· A: Hawaiian eruption à shield volcano à so called fissure eruption à coarse, hot splatter but also cooled ash fallout
· B: Plinian eruption à stratovolcano à extremely eruptive, high volatile content (from magma), high eruption column, large gas and ash extrusion
· Order of explosivity: Super volcanic > Plinian > Vulcanian > Strombolian > Hawaiian
à How are tephra deposits used for marine geology studies, name one. In which respect is tephra important for biological processes in the ocean?
· Tephras (from Plinian eruptions) allow for analysis of sedimentation rates, that have occurred between eruption events. These ash layers are very distinct in their chemical fingerprint, so we can tell them apart from other sediments. By looking at the thickness of layers, between two distinct tephra eruption layers, we can tell the age, or number of years, in which the “sandwiched” layer has accumulated. Further, by the distinguishing the “thinning” of the tephra layers, as one moves away from the supposed eruption site, one can calculate the volume of eruption.
à Where in ocean do sediments have high organic content?
· In coastal margins
· continental margins
à Why is the carbonate compensation depth in the pacific located at shallower water depth than in the Atlantic?
Increasing CO2 leads to shallower CCD (decreasing solubility)
Briefly explain: (a) terrigenous sediments, (b) biogenous sediments, (c) hydrogenous sediments. Name the main mineral group for (a) and provide an example for (c).
· a: Sand, silt and clay particles derived from continents by physical erosion. They are deposited in the coastal zone and at the continental shelf -> some transported further offshore. Dust particles derived from continents deposited at the deep-sea floor (red clay).
· b: Biogenic particles formed by marine plankton (calcium carbonate, biogenic opal, organic material). Carbonate formed at tropical shelves by calcifying benthic organisms (e.g., corals) Shell sand, oyster banks
· c: Precipitated from seawater or sediment pore water. E.g.: Evaporites (salt), manganese nodules, phosphorite concretions
Sedimentation rates generally decrease with increasing water depth in the ocean. Why?
· Most of the sediments deposited at the seafloor are of terrigenous origin. Terrigenous Most sediments are deposited at the shelf. Sedimentation rates at the deep-sea floor, therefore are lower, because most of the material has sedimented already and there is less material suspended, which might possibly be deposited. Difference between Pacific and Atlantic? -> Atlantic is smaller, generally closer to continents.
· Also: Sedimentation rates of biogenic material decreases with water depth, because remineralization processes diminish the sedimentation on the way down. It shows a regressive decline from shallow to deep, so that the possibly deposited amount declines.
a) What is the main source and sink of fixed nitrogen in the ocean?
· Pelagic N2-fixation via diazotrophic bacteria is the main source for bioavailable nitrogen
· Benthic denitrification of NO3 to N2 is the main sink for bioavailable nitrogen.
b) Which role do marine sediments play in the loss of fixed nitrogen from the ocean?
· Over half of the overall nitrogen loss occurs in the sediment via denitrification. This process is very strong because of the prevailing absence of oxygen as an electron acceptor. Thus, nitrate is used as an acceptor during OM degradation. Further, anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) is another loss process.
à Name three of the most important stratigraphical approaches in paleoceanography.
· Lithostratigraphy
à classifies, describes and traces the different rock units laterally
à compare lithologies from different core samples and correlate the same rock units
à isochronism (= assuming, that similar rock units evolved at the same time) is not guaranteed
à lithological boundary and the change in facies may be diachronous or time transgressive
à subunit: “event” stratigraphy -> tephra ash layers!
· Biostratigraphy
à Classifies rocks using fossil appearance and abundance, they are time markers
à Establishes relative age relationship between rocks, based on the principle of irreversible morphological evolution
à Best approach to isochronism Foraminifera!
à High abundance, rapid evolution, easy to identify, wide and rapid dispersal
· Magnetostratigraphy
magnetostratigraphy
· Correlation technique to date sedimentary and volcanic sequences. Look at magnetic orientation within samples at measured intervals throughout a section. The orientation is similar to the polarity of Earth's magnetic field at the time the sample has formed from volcanic flows. Meanwhile this is also possible for sediments and the technique is very useful for samples lacking fossil records.
à Which temperature is optimum for the conversion of solif kerogen to liquid petroleum?
o 10 - 20 ° C
o 200 - 250 ° C
o 80 - 130 ° C
o 400 - 450 ° C
o RIGHT: 80 - 130 ° C
à Which are the six parameters of the marine carbonate system? How many are needed at minimum to calculate the rest?
H+, hence pH
CO2, aqueous dissolved carbon dioxide -
HCO3-, dissolved bicarbonate -
CO32-
DIC: dissolved inorganic carbon = CO2 + HCO3- + CO32-
TA: total alkalinity = CO2 + HCO3- + CO32- + OH- + B(OH)4 – H+
à Any of these two parameters are enough to calculate the rest
à Which process causes an oxygen isotope fractionation in the ocean during the geological changes between warm and cold periods? How can this be applied for stratigraphical purposes?
· Global ocean ice volume has an effect on the ratio of 18O/16O.
· H2O with the lighter 16O evaporate more easily from the water, than heavy 18O. Global moisture transport to the poles leads to precipitation and freezing of 16O H2O rich waters, leaving behind an ocean with 18O enriched water. This fractionation process is happening to differing amounts, when looking at geological changes between warm and cold periods, and therefore differing ratios, relate to differing geological periods.
· Given that calcifying organisms use Bicarbonate, which has previously been built from CO2 and the presently fractionated H2O, these changes are incorporated into shells of e.g.: foraminifera. This can be used to estimate temperatures at which these organisms have built up their shell. However, this does not allow for absolute dating. But: changes in the oxygen isotope ratios of planktonic and benthic generated calcite are globally synchronous; allows to corelate and date marine deposits globally.
à Name three important approaches in paleoceanography, which allow reconstructing ocean temperatures. Use of different proxies: measurable parameters, which reflect chemical, physical or biological conditions of the past oceans.
· Microfossil assemblage transfer functions
· In (planktonic/benthic) foraminifers:
à Oxygen isotopes (benthic/planktonic)
à Mg/Ca (planktonic)
à Calcium isotopes (planktonic)
· In corals:
à Strontium
à ∂18O
· Biomarker:
à Alkenones (Coccolithophores)
à TEX 86 (Crenarchaeota)
à Which oceanic and climatic changes most likely took place with the tectonic closure of the central American seaway 4 million years ago?
According to model results, the closing of the Panama Gateway should have caused:
· modern salinity contrast between Atlantic (Caribbean) and Pacific (in surface waters)
· development of modern Caribbean Warm Pool
· Intensification of Gulf Stream System
· Increased heat, salt and moisture transfer into N Atlantic
· heating of NW Europe
· Increased formation for N Atlantic intermediate and deep-water masses
Other possible effects might be the glaciation of the northern hemisphere (NHG):
· (Closing of Panama Gateway, Intensification of Gulf Stream System)
· enhanced Evaporation in N Atlantic (since ~4.3 Ma) -> Moisture source
· Freshening of Arctic Ocean -> Facilitation of sea ice formation
· Increased Albedo; Decreased heat exchange between ocean surface and atmosphere
-> COOLING
Problem: these events are separated by 2 million years
à Which three major orbital parameters control the amount of incoming solar radiation on multimillennial time scales? Add their frequencies if you know.
Eccentricity: deviation of earths normal ellipsoid-form rotation around the sun; every 400kyrs and 100kyrs
Obliquity: Deviation in the “tilt”-angle of earths N-S axis resulting in different radiation budgets for northern and southern hemisphere; every 41kyrs
Axial precession: “tumbling” of earths axis like a spinning top; every 23kyrs
à One proxy introduced in the lecture is arguably the most powerful tool to reconstruct past ocean pH. Which proxy is referred to here and name two specific marine archives to quantify past ocean pH?
· Boron isotopes in carbonates of calcifying organisms!
· 11B and 10B are stable isotope fractions without decay or so
· In aqueous solutions boron exists as two species
· Uncharged boric acid [B(OH)3] prefers light isotope of B
· Borate ion [B(OH)4-] prefers heavy isotope of B
à Usually, only borate ion is incorporated into biogenic carbonate because of the isotopic preferences à fractionation of Boron isotopes in calcifying organisms à tell the pH at which they were growing!
· Common archives: forams (planktic and benthic), tropical and cold-water corals, coralline algae
à Which are the main two controls over atmospheric pCO2 on glacial-interglacial timescales?
· pCO2 is high during interglacial timescales. Carbon partitioning between deep and surface ocean is the cause.
· Control 1: Changing Ocean circulation due to extended Antarctic ice sheet -> hinders the formation of North Atlantic deep water -> NADW circulates much shallower and deep circulation from AABW stays confined -> does not bring up CO2!
· Control 2: Changes in the biological pump -> increased Fe input during the last glacial maximum (LGM), mostly due to dust. Enhanced primary production -> enhanced CO2 sequestration and sedimentation out of the surface layer.
· Control 3: Even at formation site in Antarctica -> AADW sinks and Circumpolar Deep Water rises (usually stream closely past each other) -> less mixing and exchange of DIC, due to the extended ice sheet of Antarctica and the increased spatial separation of the two current systems.
à Which large continental ice sheets have disappeared after the last Glacial Maximum?
· Antarctic
· Fennoskandian
· Laurentide
· Greenland
à What is the amount of methane release from the seafloor to the atmosphere? Is it relative for climate change?
· Only very little/no methane will reach the atmosphere, as it is highly soluble and goes into the dissolved state. This of course is dependent on Henrys Law c = a * p(CH4). Alpha is the diffusion coefficient, which is highly temperature dependent and p(CH4) is the partial pressure of methane, within the bubble. Therefore, the amount of dissolution is of course highly site specific. However, the amount of released methane is not relevant for climate change.
à What is going on with the plagioclases during hydrothermalism?
Albitisation: replacement of alkali and plagioclase feldspars by albite
à Which elements besides iron and manganese are important and of economic interest in ferromanganese nodules and crusts? (multiple)
o Lead (Pb)
o Sulphur (S)
o Natrium (Na)
o Cobalt (Co)
o Nickel (Ni)
o Barium (Ba)
o RIGHT: Cobalt (Co)
o RIGHT: Nickel (Ni)
o RIGHT: Barium (Ba)
à Name 2-3 mechanisms that cause advection of pore water.
· When sediments depositing: compact sediment and reduce pore space and squeeze out water (Short: sediment layers-> compaction)
· Tectonic lateral stress
· Mineral conversion (smectite->illite) (silicate tetraeders)
à Name two reactions/processes that release water in marine sediments.
· Respiration of organic matter (e.g..: AOM anaerobic oxidation of methane) = decomposition of OM
· smectite illte conversion -> illite creates when smectite pore water gets out and in deeper depths other material gets in
à Name three electron acceptors for organic matter remineralization in marine sediments. Order them in the order of decreasing Gibbs free energy yield of the corresponding redox reaction.
· Oxygen has the highest Gibbs free energy yield (in negative kJ/mol) and SO42- the lowest. Sulphates still play a substantial role because of their high concentration in seawater.
· O2 > NO3- > Mn4+ > Fe3+ > SO42-; CH2O
à At continental margins oxygen penetrates only a few millimeters into the sediment. By contrast, in the deep-sea oxygen can penetrate up to tens of meters into the sediment. What controls the oxygen penetration depth in marine sediments?
· Oxygen availability in sediments is a function of POM deposition. Sedimentation rates and thus deposition is a function of proximity to the coast (high nutrient input -> high productivity) and the respective water depth (overall amount of POM remineralization increases with water depth = time to remineralize before deposition). Therefore, generally, POM deposition is higher at continental margins and remineralization processes within the sediment respire the available oxygen quickly. Oxygen penetration into the sediment is therefore less.
·
à How can the lower than predicted conductive heat flow at mid-ocean ridge be explained?
o lower magma temp
o hydrothermal cooling
o natural variations
o measurement uncertainties
o RIGHT: hydrothermal cooling
à What are large igneous provinces?
· A large submarine volcano with a record of intense pyroclastic activity
· A region of anomalously thick oceanic crust created by plume-related melts in the upper earths mantle
· Area containing extensive granite intrusions into oceanic crust
What does d18O mean?
o Is a measure of the ratio of stable isotopes -> used as a measure of the temperature of precipitation and groundwater interaction
o Measured though differences of 18O and 16O
à What can I do with bathymetry and Sidescan Sonar?
o Right: Surface Structural
Pore-water profiles of dissolved phosphate typically display a maximum below the sediment water interface. Where is the phosphate in pore water derived from?
PO43– release upon reductive Fe-oxide dissolutions. In deeper sediment layers, the anoxic conditions redissolve previously bound (O/OH) irons to Fe2+. Phosphate shows high adsorption to particulate Fe(III) species, thus, if these get dissolved, PO33- will also resuspend.
4 minerals of granite
a. K-feldspar
b. Na-feldspar
c. Biotite
d. quartz
how to get age of earth history
lithostratigraphy
biostratigraphy
absolute dating
radiometric dating
ice cores
wave chronology
growth rings
snow accumulation
oxygen isotope stratigraphy
1. How CO2 during glacial/interglacial
a. More carbon storage in deep sea: CO2 low in atm
b. Changing ocean circulation; glacial max: much shallower mixing -> efficiently carbon storage in deep sea
c. Boil pump: glacial max: increase dust imput-> iron leads to high pp ->take up of co2 and downward flux
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