Timescales of methane seepage on the Norwegian margin following collapse of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet

Gas hydrates stored on continental shelves are susceptible to dissociation triggered by environmental changes. Knowledge of the timescales of gas hydrate dissociation and subsequent methane release are critical in understanding the impact of marine gas hydrates on the ocean–atmosphere system. Here we report a methane efflux chronology from five sites, at depths of 220–400 m, in the southwest Barents and Norwegian seas where grounded ice sheets led to thickening of the gas hydrate stability zone during the last glaciation. The onset of methane release was coincident with deglaciation-induced pressure release and thinning of the hydrate stability zone. Methane efflux continued for 7–10 kyr, tracking hydrate stability changes controlled by relative sea-level rise, bottom water warming and fluid pathway evolution in response to changing stress fields. The protracted nature of seafloor methane emissions probably attenuated the impact of hydrate dissociation on the climate system

U-Th chronology and formation controls of methane-derived authigenic carbonates from the Hola trough seep area, northern Norway

We investigated methane-derived authigenic carbonate (MDAC) crusts and nodules from a cold seep site on the northern Norwegian continental shelf in ca. 220 m water depth to determine the timing and mode of their formation. Gas bubbling observed during remotely operated vehicle (ROV)-assisted sampling of MDAC crusts revealed ongoing seep activity. Authigenic carbonates were present as crusts on the seafloor and as centimetre-size carbonate-cemented nodules at several intervals within an adjacent sediment core. Aragonite-dominated mineralogy of the MDAC crusts suggests formation close to the seafloor at higher rates of sulphate-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). In contrast, dolomite-cemented nodules are consistent with the formation at the sulphate-methane-transition zone deeper within the sediment at lower rates of AOM. The δ13C-carbonate values of bulk rock and of micro-drilled aragonite samples vary between − 22.2‰ and − 34.6‰ (VPDB). We interpret the carbon in aragonite to be mainly derived from the anaerobic oxidation of thermogenic methane, with a minor contribution from seawater dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). AOM activity is supported by high concentrations of AOM-related biomarkers of archaea (archaeol and 2-sn-hydroxyarchaeol) and sulphate-reducing bacteria (iso and anteiso-C15:0 fatty acids) in the crusts. The dolomite nodules exhibit higher δ13C-carbonate values (− 12‰ VPDB) suggesting a smaller amount of methane-derived carbon, presumably due to the contribution of DIC migrating from depth, and lower AOM rates. The latter is supported by orders of magnitude lower concentrations of archaeol and sn-2-hydroxyarchaeol in the sediment interval containing the largest dolomite nodules. δ18O values of pure aragonite samples and dolomite nodules indicate the precipitation of carbonate close to isotopic equilibrium with seawater and no influence of gas hydrate-derived water. U-Th dating of two MDAC crusts shows that they formed between 1.61 ± 0.02 and 4.39 ± 1.63 ka BP and between 2.65 ± 0.02 and 4.32 ± 0.08 ka BP. We infer both a spatial and temporal change in methane flux and related MDAC formation at this seep site. These changes might be caused by regional seismic events that can affect pore pressure or re-activation of migration pathways thus facilitating fluid flow from deep sources towards the seabed

Geochronology and stable isotope geochemistry of cold-seep carbonates from the Sea of Marmara

International audienceGeochronology and stable isotope geochemistry of cold-seep carbonates from the Sea of Marmar

Multiple sulfur isotopes in methane seep carbonates track unsteady sulfur cycling during anaerobic methane oxidation

The anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled with sulfate reduction (AOM-SR) is a major microbially-mediated methane consuming process in marine sediments including methane seeps. The AOM-SR can lead to the formation of methane-derived authigenic carbonates which entrap sulfide minerals (pyrite) and carbonate-associated sulfate (CAS). We studied the sulfur isotope compositions of the pyrite and CAS in seafloor methane-derived authigenic carbonate crust samples from the North Sea and Barents Sea which reflect the time-integrated metabolic activity of the AOM-SR community as well as the physical conditions under which those carbonates are formed. In these samples, pyrite exhibits δ³⁴S values ranging from -23.4‰ to 14.8‰ and Δ³³S values between −0.06‰ and 0.16‰, whereas CAS is characterized by δ³⁴S values ranging from 26.2‰ to 61.6‰ and Δ³³S mostly between −0.05‰ and 0.07‰. Such CAS sulfur isotope compositions are distinctly lower in δ³⁴S-Δ³³ space from published porewater sulfate values from environments where the reduction of sulfate is mostly coupled to sedimentary organic matter oxidation. Mass-balance modelling suggests that (1) AOM-SR appears to cause rapid carbonate precipitation under high methane flux near or at the sediment-water interface and (2) that the precipitation of pyrite and carbonates are not necessarily synchronous. The sulfur isotopic composition of pyrite is interpreted to reflect more variable precipitating conditions of evolving sulfide with porewater connectivity, fluctuating methane fluxes and oxidative sulfur cycle. Taken together, the multiple isotopic compositions of pyrite and sulfate in methane-derived authigenic carbonates indicate protracted precipitation under conditions of non-steady state methane seepage activity

Multiple sulfur isotopes in methane seep carbonates track unsteady sulfur cycling during anaerobic methane oxidation

The anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled with sulfate reduction (AOM-SR) is a major microbially-mediated methane consuming process in marine sediments including methane seeps. The AOM-SR can lead to the formation of methane-derived authigenic carbonates which entrap sulfide minerals (pyrite) and carbonate-associated sulfate (CAS). We studied the sulfur isotope compositions of the pyrite and CAS in seafloor methane-derived authigenic carbonate crust samples from the North Sea and Barents Sea which reflect the time-integrated metabolic activity of the AOM-SR community as well as the physical conditions under which those carbonates are formed. In these samples, pyrite exhibits δ³⁴S values ranging from -23.4‰ to 14.8‰ and Δ³³S values between −0.06‰ and 0.16‰, whereas CAS is characterized by δ³⁴S values ranging from 26.2‰ to 61.6‰ and Δ³³S mostly between −0.05‰ and 0.07‰. Such CAS sulfur isotope compositions are distinctly lower in δ³⁴S-Δ³³ space from published porewater sulfate values from environments where the reduction of sulfate is mostly coupled to sedimentary organic matter oxidation. Mass-balance modelling suggests that (1) AOM-SR appears to cause rapid carbonate precipitation under high methane flux near or at the sediment-water interface and (2) that the precipitation of pyrite and carbonates are not necessarily synchronous. The sulfur isotopic composition of pyrite is interpreted to reflect more variable precipitating conditions of evolving sulfide with porewater connectivity, fluctuating methane fluxes and oxidative sulfur cycle. Taken together, the multiple isotopic compositions of pyrite and sulfate in methane-derived authigenic carbonates indicate protracted precipitation under conditions of non-steady state methane seepage activity

Paleo-environmental controls on cold seep carbonate authigenesis in the Sea of Marmara

International audienceThe factors controlling fluid emission dynamics at ocean margins are poorly understood. In particular, there are significant uncertainties on how fluid seepage at cold seeps may have responded to abrupt environmental changes in the geological past. This study reports on a detailed geochemical investigation of seafloor carbonate crusts sampled at cold seeps along the submerged part of the North Anatolian Fault system in the Sea of Marmara - an inland sea, which has experienced major paleo-environmental changes over the last deglaciation period. We also analyzed a series of authigenic carbonate concretions recovered from two sediment cores at the Western-High ridge, an active fluid venting area. The ages of seafloor carbonate crusts derived from isochron U-Th dating cover the last 7 kyr, suggesting that fluid activity along the fault system remained continuous over that time interval. In the sediment cores, carbonate concretions are concentrated at the lacustrine-to-marine transition, which corresponds to the period when Mediterranean waters flowed into the Marmara Basin about 12-14 kyr ago. U-Th isotopic data indicate that most of these concretions formed later during the Holocene, around 9-10 kyr ago, a period coinciding with an important anoxic event that led to the deposition of a sapropel layer in the Sea of Marmara. Based upon these results, we suggest that the absence of carbonate concretions in the lacustrine sediment unit indicates that dissolved sulfate concentrations in the Marmara lake pore waters during glacial time were too low to promote significant anaerobic methane oxidation, thereby preventing sedimentary carbonate authigenesis. In contrast, the progressive inflow of Mediterranean waters into the glacial Marmara lake after 15 ka provided a source of dissolved sulfate that allowed anaerobic oxidation of methane to proceed within the anoxic sediment. Importantly, the synchronism between the main phase of authigenic carbonate precipitation at the studied sites (average 9.4±1.8 ka, n=16) and the regional anoxic sapropel event support the idea that the drop in bottom water dissolved oxygen content was probably a key factor to enhance microbial activity and associated carbonate precipitation at that time. Overall, these results provide straightforward evidence that fluid emission dynamics and hydrocarbon oxidation at cold seeps can be directly related to changing environmental conditions through time

Methane-derived authigenic carbonates along the North Anatolian fault system in the Sea of Marmara (Turkey)

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Evolutionary diversification of methanotrophic ANME-1 archaea and their expansive virome

International audience‘Candidatus Methanophagales’ (ANME-1) is an order-level clade of archaea responsible for anaerobic methane oxidation in deep-sea sediments. The diversity, ecology and evolution of ANME-1 remain poorly understood. In this study, we use metagenomics on deep-sea hydrothermal samples to expand ANME-1 diversity and uncover the effect of virus–host dynamics. Phylogenetic analyses reveal a deep-branching, thermophilic family, ‘ Candidatus Methanospirareceae’, closely related to short-chain alkane oxidizers. Global phylogeny and near-complete genomes show that hydrogen metabolism within ANME-1 is an ancient trait that was vertically inherited but differentially lost during lineage diversification. Metagenomics also uncovered 16 undescribed virus families so far exclusively targeting ANME-1 archaea, showing unique structural and replicative signatures. The expansive ANME-1 virome contains a metabolic gene repertoire that can influence host ecology and evolution through virus-mediated gene displacement. Our results suggest an evolutionary continuum between anaerobic methane and short-chain alkane oxidizers and underscore the effects of viruses on the dynamics and evolution of methane-driven ecosystems

Sediment characteristics and microbial mats in a marine mangrove, Manche-à-eau lagoon (Guadeloupe)

International audiencePurposeMarine mangrove sediments in the Manche-à-Eau lagoon (Guadeloupe, Caribbean Sea) harbor locally extensive, white microbial mats. These mats cover the surface of reduced sediments near the roots of red mangrove trees, Rhizophora mangle, and are mainly composed of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the Beggiatoaceae family, with some filamentous cyanobacteria. The goal of this study was to investigate the possible influence of sediment characteristics on the presence of these microbial mats.Materials and methodsFour push cores were collected in April 2013, two from zones with microbial mats and two from zones without mats. Sediment characteristics (grain-size distribution, mineralogy, total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents, atomic TOC/TN ratios, and organic matter (OM) δ13C values) were compared for all four cores.Results and discussionSignificant differences were observed between sediments below microbial mats and those without mats. Sediments with microbial mats contained greater amounts of clay, and higher TOC, TN, and TOC/TN ratios, with lower total carbonate content and δ13C values. The higher clay content most likely results from lower fluid flow velocity near to mangrove roots, while higher TOC/TN ratios and lower δ13C values indicate higher inputs of OM from mangrove trees. These results are consistent with the fact that microbial mats were observed near the roots of mangrove trees, which trap OM from terrestrial vegetation and fine sediments.ConclusionsThe grain-size distribution of sediment particles, the total carbonate content, and the δ13C values are the main parameters discriminating between zones with microbial mats and those without mats. Variations in total carbonate content, which is mainly of biogenic origin, result from conditions that are more favorable for benthic organisms in zones without microbial mats. Variations of the TOC/TN ratios are controlled by the presence of a non-negligible amount of inorganic nitrogen bound to surface clay mineral particles and/or by microbial processes