Typical Crust Research Articles

Influence of Environmental Factors on Carbon Dioxide Exchange in Biological Soil Crusts in Desert Areas

The influence of water and light on CO2 exchange in cyanobacteria, lichen, and moss crusts at five temperature levels under controlled laboratory conditions was explored using a portable photosynthesis system. Across the range of temperatures, average optimum water content values for cyanobacteria, lichen and moss crusts were 0.38 ± 0.17 mm, 0.92 ± 0.06 mm, and 2.10 ± 0.02 mm (mean ± SE), respectively, whereas the respective average light saturation points were 900 ± 23, 870 ± 45, and 1200 ± 32 µ mol m−2 s−1. Optimum temperatures for photosynthesis were 20–27°C, 15°C, and 20°C, respectively, with maximum photosynthetic rates for the three types of crust of 2.67 ± 0.09, 3.06 ± 0.08, and 6.62 ± 0.06 µ mol m−2 s−1, respectively, under these optimum temperatures. Based on the observed data and climate information, the potential net photosynthetic carbon sequestration rates were estimated at 5.16, 3.46, and 6.05 g C m−2 a−1, respectively. These results indicate that the range of environmental conditions required for photosynthetic carbon sequestration in biological soil crusts is wide. Furthermore, moss crusts covering the smallest distribution area made the greatest contribution of C to the soil ecosystem, followed by cyanobacteria crusts, which covered the largest area.

Effects of biological soil crusts and drought on emergence and survival of a Patagonian perennial grass in the Monte of Argentina

Biological soil crusts are widely distributed in arid and semiarid regions. They have an important ecological role, especially by modifying physical and chemical properties of soils. Biological crusts may also modify seed germination and seedling establishment. The effects vary widely according to the type of crust and the vascular plant species. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of moss-dominated biological soil crusts on the emergence, biomass and survival of Poa ligularis Nees ex Steud. under different irrigation regimes. We collected seeds of P. ligularis and biological soil crusts composed of two species of mosses: Syntrichia princeps (De Not.) Mitt and Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. from an area in the Monte of Argentina. The result showed that seedling emergence of P. ligularis was higher in treatments with bare soil than in soil covered by crusts, and also in those with watering to field capacity. Mean emergence time was higher in treatments with bare soil and watering to field capacity. Seedling biomass also showed significant differences between treatments. These results suggest that biological soil crusts dominated by mosses do not promote P. ligularis emergence, although they would not affect its survival.

Relation between alternations of uplift and subsidence revealed by Late Cenozoic fluvial sequences and physical properties of the continental crust

Reversals in vertical crustal motion, alternations between uplift and subsidence over time scales of hundreds of thousands of years or more, have been identified in Late Cenozoic fluvial sequences in many regions worldwide. They form a class of fluvial archive that is distinct from the extreme stability observed in Archaean cratons and the monotonic uplift or subsidence that is widely observed in other regions. Such alternations between uplift and subsidence are characteristic of regions of Early or Middle Proterozoic crust, where the initial crustal consolidation included the development of a thick ‘root’ of mafic material at the base of the crust; the present study focuses on localities with this crustal type in the USA and eastern Europe. It has previously been suggested on the basis of uplift modelling that this style of crustal behaviour occurs only in regions where the mobile lower‐crustal layer is relatively thin. This study supports this conclusion on the basis of independent geothermal calculations, which indicate that such alternations between uplift and subsidence occur where the mobile lower‐crustal layer is ≤∼7 km thick. An understanding of this phenomenon, in relation to the understanding of vertical crustal motions induced by surface processes (and thus by climate change) in general, therefore requires analysis of the properties and dynamics of the mobile lower‐crustal layer; detailed analysis of fluvial sequences thus contributes unique information in this area.

Dust fall and biological soil crust distribution as indicators of the aeolian environment in China's Shapotou railway protective system

Spatial and temporal distributions of dust fall along with the spatial variation of the biological crust were measured along a cross-section in China's Shapotou railway protective system. The variation of the aeolian environment was evident from the spatial variation of near-surface wind flow and both grain size and accumulation rate of dust fall. These varied greatly along the selected cross-section that extended from the mobile dune through the straw checkerboards and vegetation zone to the gravel platform of the railway. On the temporal scale, the dust fall concentrated from March through May. The grain-size composition changed monthly. These temporal changes were related to the wind-force variation and surface condition. The surface conditions along the cross-section were characterized by crust type, crust thickness, and ground (0–5cm) compaction. Crust could only be found in a relatively stable environment. The distribution of dust fall and crust indicated the intensity of aeolian activity and the stability of the aeolian environment. Further improvement of the aeolian environment by natural processes or by human construction would promote additional dust fall and accelerate the development of the crust.

Biocrusts serve as biomarkers for the upper 30 cm soil water content

Summary Knowledge regarding the spatial distribution of moisture in soil is of great importance especially in arid regions where water is scarce. Following a previous research that showed a significant relationship between daylight surface wetness duration and the average chlorophyll content of 5 biocrusts in the Negev Desert (Israel), and the resultant outcome that pointed to the possible use of biocrusts as biomarkers for surface wetness duration, we hypothesize that biocrusts may also serve as biomarkers for the moisture content of the upper soil layer. Toward this end, daylight surface wetness duration was measured at 5 crust types following rain events during 1993–1995 along with periodical soil sampling of the upper 30 cm (at 5 cm intervals) of the soil profiles underlying these biocrusts. The findings showed a positive linear relationship between daylight surface wetness duration and the chlorophyll content of the crusts ( r 2 = 0.96–0.97). High correlations were also found between daylight surface wetness duration and the available water content ( r 2 = 0.96) and duration ( r 2 = 0.85–0.88) of the upper 30 cm soil and between the chlorophyll content of the crust and the available water content ( r 2 = 0.93–0.96) and duration ( r 2 = 0.78–0.84). Topography-induced shading and slope position (which determined additional water either by runoff or subsurface flow) are seen responsible for the clear link between subsurface moisture content, daylight surface wetness duration and chlorophyll content of the crust. This link points to the possible use of biocrusts as biomarkers for subsurface water content and highlights the importance of crust typology and mapping for the study of the spatial distribution of water and their potential use for the study of ecosystem structure and function.

Full-fit reconstruction of the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay

Abstract. Reconstructing the opening of the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay between Greenland and North America remains controversial. Recent seismic data suggest that magnetic lineations along the margins of the Labrador Sea, originally interpreted as seafloor spreading anomalies, may lie within the crust of the continent–ocean transition. These data also suggest a more seaward extent of continental crust within the Greenland margin near Davis Strait than assumed in previous full-fit reconstructions. Our study focuses on reconstructing the full-fit configuration of Greenland and North America using an approach that considers continental deformation in a quantitative manner. We use gravity inversion to map crustal thickness across the conjugate margins, and assimilate observations from available seismic profiles and potential field data to constrain the likely extent of different crustal types. We derive end-member continental margin restorations following alternative interpretations of published seismic profiles. The boundaries between continental and oceanic crust (COB) are restored to their pre-stretching locations along small circle motion paths across the region of Cretaceous extension. Restored COBs are fitted quantitatively to compute alternative total-fit reconstructions. A preferred full-fit model is chosen based on the strongest compatibility with geological and geophysical data. Our preferred model suggests that (i) the COB lies oceanward of magnetic lineations interpreted as magnetic anomaly 31 (70 Ma) in the Labrador Sea, (ii) all previously identified magnetic lineations landward of anomaly 27 reflect intrusions into continental crust and (iii) the Ungava fault zone in Davis Strait acted as a leaky transform fault during rifting. This robust plate reconstruction reduces gaps and overlaps in Davis Strait and suggests that there is no need for alternative models proposed for reconstructions of this area including additional plate boundaries in North America or Greenland. Our favoured model implies that break-up and formation of continent–ocean transition (COT) first started in the southern Labrador Sea and Davis Strait around 88 Ma and then propagated north and southwards up to the onset of real seafloor spreading at 63 Ma in the Labrador Sea. In Baffin Bay, continental stretching lasted longer and actual break-up and seafloor spreading started around 61 Ma (chron 26).

Common Pb isotope mapping of UHP metamorphic zones in Dabie orogen, Central China: Implication for Pb isotopic structure of subducted continental crust

We report Pb isotopic compositions for feldspars separated from 57 orthogneisses and 2 paragneisses from three exhumed UHPM slices representing the North Dabie zone, the Central Dabie zone and the South Dabie zone of the Dabie orogen, central-east China. The feldspars from the gneisses were recrystallized during Triassic continental subduction and UHP metamorphism. Precursors of the orthogneisses are products of Neoproterozoic bimodal magmatic events, those in north Dabie zone emplaced into the lower crust and those in central and south Dabie zones into middle or upper crust, respectively. On a 207Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb diagram, almost all orthogneisses data lie to the left of the 0.23Ga paleogeochron and plot along the model mantle evolution curve with the major portion of the data plotting below it. On a 208Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb diagram the most of data of north Dabie zone extend in elongate arrays along the lower crustal curve and others extend between the lower crustal curve to near the mantle evolution curve for the plumbotectonics model. This pattern demonstrates that the Pb isotopic evolution of the feldspars essentially ended at 0.23Ga and the orthogneiss protoliths were principally dominated by reworking of ancient lower crust with some addition of juvenile mantle in the Neoproterozoic rifting tectonic zone. According to geological evolution history of the locally Dabie orogen, a four-stage Pb isotope evolution model including a long time evolution between 2.0 and 0.8Ga with a lower crust type U/Pb ratio (μ=5–6) suggests that magmatic emplacement levels of the protoliths of the orthogneisses in the Dabie orogen at 0.8Ga also play an important role in the Pb evolution of the exhumed UHPM slices, corresponding to their respective Pb characters at ca. 0.8–0.23Ga. For example, north Dabie zone requires low μ values (3.4–9.6), while central and south Dabie zones require high μ values (10.9–17.2). On the other hand, Pb isotopic mixing between north and central or south Dabie zones during retro-grade metamorphism enhanced by the extensive magmatism in the Cretaceous has also been observed in the 207Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb vs. 206Pb/204Pb diagrams. A combined study of common Pb isotopic compositions of Dabie orthogneisses and Sulu UHPM rocks from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling project demonstrates that a slab marked by extremely unradiogenic Pb observed in the main hole was absent in the Dabie orogen. However, occurrence of some Mesozoic granitoids with such unradiogenic character in the Dabie orogen suggests that their source may be a buried unradiogenic unit underlying below north Dabie zone. This case study clearly shows that whether the position of the Dabie data relative to the orogen curve of the plumbotectonic model is helpful in understanding the Pb isotopic structure and evolution of subducted continental crust.

Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Cyanobacteria in Biological Soil Crusts of the Succulent Karoo and Nama Karoo of Southern Africa

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are communities of cryptogamic organisms, occurring in arid and semiarid regions all over the world. Based on both morphological identification and genetic analyses, we established a first cyanobacterial inventory using the biphasic approach for BSCs within two major biomes of southern Africa. The samples were collected at two different sites in the Succulent Karoo and one in the Nama Karoo. After cultivation and morphological identification, the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from the cyanobacterial cultures. From the soil samples, the DNA was extracted, and the 16S rRNA gene sequenced. All the sequences of the clone libraries from soil and cultures were compared with those of the public databases. Forty-five different species were morphologically identified in the samples of the Succulent Karoo (observatories of Soebatsfontein and Goedehoop). Based on the genetic analyses, 60 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified for the Succulent Karoo and 43 for the Nama Karoo (based on 95% sequence similarity). The cloned sequences corresponded well with the morphologically described taxa in cultures and sequences in the public databases. Besides known species of typical crust-forming cyanobacterial genera (Microcoleus, Phormidium, Tolypothrix and Scytonema), we found sequences of so far undescribed species of the genera Leptolyngbya, Pseudanabaena, Phormidium, Oscillatoria, Schizothrix and Microcoleus. Most OTUs were restricted to distinct sites. Grazed soils showed lower taxa numbers than undisturbed soils, implying the presence of early successional crust types and reduced soil surface protection. Our combined approach of morphological identification and genetic analyses allowed both a taxa inventory and the analysis of species occurring under specific habitat conditions.

Microstructures and photosynthetic diurnal changes in the different types of lichen soil crusts

In the revegetation region of Shapotou (at the southeastern edge of Tengger Desert), biological soil crusts (BSCs) generally develop and succeed from cyanobacterial soil crusts (CSCs) to lichen soil crusts (LSCs). Based on the different dominant lichens on crust surface, LSCs were further divided into cyanolichen soil crusts (CLSCs) and green algae lichen soil crusts (GLSCs). In this study, the microstructures and photosynthetic diurnal changes in both CLSCs and GLSCs were investigated using the microscopic observation and chlorophyll fluorescence techniques. The results showed the different types of LSCs have different surface morphological characteristics and inner structures due to the different biological compositions. Compared with the CLSCs, GLSCs had a higher photosynthetic efficiency, including the maximum photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and effective photosynthetic efficiency (ΦPSII), which in the final analysis was considered to be closely correlated with the different photosynthetic characteristics between different photobiont types (green algae and cyanobacteria). In addition, similar to CSCs, a midday depression of photosynthetic efficiency was detected in LSCs, although the depression extents were different in different types of LSCs. In conclusion, the occurrence of midday depression of photosynthetic efficiency might be a stress effect and also an adaptation strategy of LSCs to adversity, especially the high light intensity and temperature at noon.

Microbial dolomite in fresh water carbonate deposits

AbstractThis article reports evidence for biologically mediated precipitation of dolomite in a fresh water spring in the south‐east of Spain. Build‐ups in the spring consisted of calcite, minor dolomite, barite and gypsum crystals formed by the mineralisation of microbial biofilms and bryophytes. A detailed microscopic study, coupled with geochemical analysis of the dolomite‐precipitating biofilms, showed that dolomite crystals occurred in association with living coccoid micro‐organisms, providing strong evidence that micro‐organisms play a fundamental role in the precipitation of this mineral. Many of the calcite crystals observed were associated with extracellular polymeric substances. Moreover, microbial involvement in the precipitation of calcite was further supported by the presence of living cyanobacteria within the calcite crystals. Two different types of build‐up were found in the spring: soft spongy moss tufa and laminated crusts. Two types of crusts were identified as follows: simple pink crusts and laminated crusts, the latter forming in both sub‐aquatic and sub‐aerial environments. Sub‐aquatic accumulation of simple detached pink crust fragments occurred sporadically. Both tufa and the carbonate crusts hosted cyanobacterial‐dominated biofilms with different bacteria and diatoms and their extracellular polymeric substances. The δ13C values of calcite showed some biogenic involvement in the origin of this mineral. The δ18O values were similar in the tufa and carbonate crusts and corresponded to current climatological characteristics. The occurrence of different groups of minerals (carbonates and sulphates) in close spatial association with micro‐organisms suggests the presence of different macro‐environmental and micro‐environmental conditions that facilitate mineral precipitation within biofilms. These findings extend the known range of aerobic microbial dolomites to include springs, and show that the precipitation of both dolomite and calcite carbonates occurs while organisms are alive.

Univariate data analysis system: deciphering mean compositions of island and continental arc magmas, and influence of the underlying crust

Our aim is to determine the mean compositions of modern island and continental arcs, along with dispersion estimates, and use them to evaluate their similarities and differences in such subduction settings. First, following the conventional approach, the statistical parameters of mean, median, and standard deviation were simply calculated from the available combined data from all island or continental arcs. However, it is mandatory to ascertain from significance tests that all island or continental arcs used for these estimates are statistically similar in their compositions before combining the data from different arcs and calculating the mean values and their uncertainties for the chemical parameters of interest. A new computer program, Univariate Data Analysis System (UDASYS), was developed for this purpose because the available programs are not efficient for applying the significance test of analysis of variance (ANOVA) to large numbers of sample groups, as in the present work. Compositional data for 16 island and 12 continental arcs around the world were compiled and processed in UDASYS. The best compositional estimates for all three types of magmas (basic, intermediate, and acid) from island and continental arcs were statistically evaluated to document, for the first time, significant differences for 64–94% of the geochemical parameters under study. These differences in large-ion lithophile elements, light rare earth elements, high-field strength elements, and numerous log-ratios are likely caused by different types of underlying crust beneath island and continental arcs. More specifically, the examination of two nearby arcs, Izu-Bonin (island) arc and Japan (continental) arc, confirmed that about 65–77% of the parameters showed significant differences, which may be related to the different types of crusts beneath these spatially close areas. The differences between the log-ratios of island and continental arc basic magmas further indicate that new multi-dimensional discrimination diagrams can certainly be proposed in future to discriminate such basic magmas from these two very similar tectonic settings, which at present is possible only from diagrams for intermediate and acid magmas.

Denitrification from nitrogen-fixing biologically crusted soils in a cool desert environment, southeast Utah, USA

IntroductionNitrogen fixation by microorganisms within biological soil crust (“biocrust”) communities provides an important pathway for N inputs in cool desert environments where soil nutrients are low and symbiotic N-fixing plants may be rare. Estimates of N fixation in biocrusts often greatly exceed that of N accretion rates leading to uncertainty regarding N loss pathways.MethodsIn this study we examined nitrogen fixation and denitrification rates in biocrust communities that differed in N fixation potential (low N fixation = light cyanobacterial biocrust, high N fixation = dark cyanolichen crust) at four temperature levels (10, 20, 30, 40°C) and four simulated rainfall levels (0.05, 0.2, 0.6, 1 cm rain events) under controlled laboratory conditions.ResultsAcetylene reduction rates (AR, an index of N fixation activity) were over six-fold higher in dark crusts relative to light crusts. Dark biocrusts also exhibited eight-fold higher denitrification rates. There was no consistent effect of temperature on denitrification rates, but there was an interactive effect of water addition and crust type. In light crusts, denitrification rates increased with increasing water addition, whereas the highest denitrification rates in dark crusts were observed at the lowest level of water addition.ConclusionsThese results suggest that there are no clear and consistent environmental controls on short-term denitrification rates in these biologically crusted soils. Taken together, estimates of denitrification from light and dark biocrusts constituted 3 and 4% of N fixation rates, respectively suggesting that losses as denitrification are not significant relative to N inputs via fixation. This estimate is based on a previously published conversion ratio of ethylene produced to N fixed that is low (0.295), resulting in high estimates of N fixation. If future N fixation studies in biologically crusted soils show that these ratios are closer to the theoretical 3:1 ratio, denitrification may constitute a more significant loss pathway relative to N fixed.

Noble gas transport into the mantle facilitated by high solubility in amphibole

How noble gases are recycled from the atmosphere back into the mantle has been unclear. High-pressure experiments demonstrate that noble gases are highly soluble in an important hydrous mineral in altered oceanic crust, suggesting that subduction of this type of crust may be a significant pathway for noble gas flux back into the mantle. The chemical evolution of both the Earth’s atmosphere and mantle can be traced using noble gases1,2,3,4,5. Their abundance in mantle and atmosphere reflects a balance between the flux of noble gases from the Earth’s interior through magmatism, and the recycling of noble gases from the atmosphere back into the mantle at subduction zones. The flux of noble gases back into the mantle has long been thought to be negligible1. However, analyses of samples from the mantle now suggest that this recycling flux is more significant6,7,8, but the responsible mechanisms are unclear. Here we present high-pressure experimental measurements that demonstrate high solubility of noble gases in amphibole, an important hydrous mineral in altered oceanic crust9,10,11. Noble gas solubility correlates with the concentration of unoccupied A-sites, which consist of a pair of opposing tetrahedra rings. We conclude that A-sites are energetically favourable locations for noble gas dissolution in amphibole that could allow recycling of noble gases into the mantle by subduction of altered oceanic crust. As many hydrous minerals in subducting slabs, such as serpentine and chlorite, have lattice structures similar to the A-site in amphibole, we suggest that these minerals may provide even more significant recycling pathways7,11.

3D Crustal and Lithospheric Structures in the Southeastern Mediterranean and Northeastern Egypt

Crustal and lithospheric thicknesses of the southeastern Mediterranean Basin region were determined using 3D Bouguer and elevation data analysis. The model is based on the assumption of local isostatic equilibrium. The calculated regional and residual Bouguer anomaly maps were employed for highlighting both deep and shallow structures. Generally, the regional field in the area under study is considered to be mainly influenced by the density contrast between the crust and upper mantle. Use of the gravity and topographic data with earthquake focal depths has improved both the geometry and the density distribution in the 3-D calculated profiles. The oceanic-continental boundary, the basement relief, Moho depth and lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary maps were estimated. The results point to the occurrence of thick continental crust areas with a thickness of approximately 32 km in northern Egypt. Below the coastal regions, the thickness of crust decreases abruptly (transition zone). An inverse correlation between sediment and crustal thicknesses shows up from the study. Furthermore, our density model reveals the existence of a continental crustal zone below the Eratosthenes Seamount block. Nevertheless, the crustal type beneath the Levantine basin is typically oceanic; this is covered by sedimentary sequences more than 14 km thick. The modeled Moho map shows a depth of 28–30 km below Cyprus and a depth of 26–28 km beneath the south Florence Rise in the northern west. However, the Moho lies at a constant shallow depth of 22–24 km below the Levantine Basin, which indicates thinning of the crust beneath this region. The Moho map reveals also a maximum depth of about 33–35 km beneath both the northern Egypt and northern Sinai, both of which are of the continental crust. The resulting mantle density anomalies suggest important variations of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) topography, indicating prominent lithospheric mantle thinning beneath south Cyprus (LAB ~90 km depth), followed by thickening beneath the Eratosthenes seamount, Florence Rise, Levantine Basin and reaching to maximum thickness below Cyprian Arc (LAB ~115–120 km depth), and further followed by thinning in the north African margin plate and north Sinai subplate (LAB ~90–95 km depth). According to our density model profiles, we find that almost all earthquakes in the study area occurred along the western and central segments of the Cyprian arc while they almost disappear along the eastern segment. The active subduction zone in the Cyprian Arc is associated with large negative anomalies due to its low velocity upper mantle zone, which might be an indication of a serpentinized mantle. This means that collision between Cyprus and the Eratosthenes Seamount block is marked by seismic activity. Additionally, this block is in the process of dynamically subsiding, breaking-up and being underthrusted beneath Cyprus to the north and thrusted onto the Levantine Basin to the south.

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria are structured by geography in biological soil crusts across North American arid lands

Abstract Introduction Biological soil crusts (BSCs) can dominate surface cover in dry lands worldwide, playing an integral role in arid land biogeochemistry, particularly in N fertilization through fixation and cycling. Nitrification is a characteristic and universal N transformation in BSCs that becomes important for the export of N beyond the microscopic bounds of the crust itself. The contribution of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in BSCs has been shown, but the role and extent of the recently discovered ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) have not. Methods We sampled various types of crusts in four desert regions across the western United States and characterized the composition and size of ammonia-oxidizing communities using clone libraries and quantitative PCR targeting the amoA gene, which codes for the ammonia monooxygenase enzyme, universally present in ammonia-oxidizing microbes. Results All archaeal amoA sequences retrieved from BSCs belonged to the Thaumarchaeota (Nitrososphaera associated Group I.1b). Sequences from the Sonoran Desert, Colorado Plateau, and Great Basin were indistinguishable from each other but distinct from those of the Chihuahuan Desert. Based on amoA gene abundances, archaeal and bacterial ammonia oxidizers were ubiquitous in our survey, but the ratios of archaeal to bacterial ammonia oxidizers shifted from bacterially dominated in northern, cooler deserts to archaeally dominated in southern, warmer deserts. Conclusions Archaea are shown to be potentially important biogeochemical agents of biological soil crust N cycling. Conditions associated with different types of BSCs and biogeographical factors reveal a niche differentiation between AOA and AOB, possibly driven by temperature.

Role of particulate metals in heterogenous secondary sulfate formation

A series of field sampling and controlled laboratory experiments were undertaken to quantify the role of trace metals found in ambient fine particulate matter and metal-rich primary sources in the heterogenous catalytic conversion of SO2 gas into sulfate particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere. Analysis produced source profiles of three primary source materials, fluidized-bed catalytic cracking catalyst, coal-fired combustion fly ash, and paved road dust, featuring 33 elements including rare earth metals, which are not commonly reported in the literature.Subsequently three sets of experiments were conducted exposing 1) source materials, 2) ambient PM, and 3) ambient PM augmented with approximately an equal amount of source material to SO2 gas and measuring sulfate formation. Source material experiments revealed that the greatest extent of reaction was on the surface of coal fly ash with sulfate formation of 19 ± 5 mg sulfate g−1 material. Ambient fine particulate matter (PM) experiments showed sulfate formation ranging from negligible amounts to 180 ± 10 mg sulfate g−1 PM. It was much more difficult to quantify the sulfate formation on ambient filters augmented with the source materials. In these experiments, sulfate formation ranged from negligible amounts to 40 ± 8 mg sulfate g−1 of particles (ambient + augmented material). These three sets of experiments shows that heterogenous sulfate formation is often negligible but, under some conditions can contribute 10% or more to the total sulfate concentrations when exposed to high SO2 concentrations such as those found in plumes.Factor analysis of the source material experiments grouped metals into two categories, crustal components and anthropogenically emitted metals representative of catalyst material, with the former showing the strongest correlation with sulfate formation. Subsequent analysis of data collected from the ambient PM experiments showed a much weaker correlation of sulfate formation with the crustal components, including iron and titanium, remaining clustered with sulfate formation. Independent research has been previously reported in the literature establishing mechanisms for the iron and titanium catalyzed conversion of S(IV) to S(VI) suggesting there may be other metals within these crustal type metal components that behave similarly. Additional experiments spanning a wider range of variables including more sources, SO2 concentrations and exposure times, ambient PM locations, as well as more individual samples may be necessary to obtain more conclusive evidence into the role of various metals in catalyzing the conversion of S(IV) to S(VI).

Soil crusting impact on soil organic carbon losses by water erosion

Abstract The Sahelian region, characterized by erratic, heavy rainfalls and low soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, is highly vulnerable to land degradation. While water erosion is recognized as being a main mechanism of SOC losses, little research has yet been done to investigate the role which soil surface crusting might have on SOC losses. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of soil surface crusting on SOC losses. This study was conducted in Tougou Catchment (37 km 2 ), northwest of Burkina Faso, which receives a cumulative mean annual rainfall of 500 mm y − 1 . The area is characterized by sandy soils with varying types of surface crusts. The four different crust types studied were: structural crusts (STRU), which were found under cultivated soils, which were plowed annually; perennial desiccation crusts (DES), gravel (GRAV) and erosion (ERO) crusts, generally found in the degraded semi-arid savannas. Three micro-scale runoff plot (1 × 1 m 2 ) replicates were installed on each of the different types of surface crusts observed in the catchment. Water and sediment samples were collected from the runoff plots after every rainfall event (n = 10) of the 2011 rainy season. The sediment samples were analyzed for organic carbon (OCsed), while the water samples were examined for dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The average of organic carbon losses with sediment (OC L sed), was 0.37 g C m − 2 y − 1 for ERO, 0.36 g C m − 2 y − 1 for DES, 0.24 g C m − 2 y − 1 for STRU and 0.15 g C m − 2 y − 1 for GRAV. DOC accounted for a minute contribution to SOC losses i.e. less than 0.05%. STRU with 10.42 mg C l − 1 showed the highest DOC content, followed by GRAV (6.13 mg C l − 1 ), DES (5.06 mg C l − 1 ) and ERO (4.92 mg C l − 1 ). The OC enrichment ratio (ER) of sediments to that of the 0–0.1 m bulk soil was less than one for DES, GRAV and ERO (0.39, 0.69 and 0.75, respectively) and reached 1.14 for STRU. This pointed to a greater SOC protection from erosion by the perennial crusts of the degraded savannas (DES, GRAV and ERO), as compared to crusts of cultivated fields. Thick, sand-enriched crusts, DES and GRAV, seemed to provide the greatest OC protection. This study pointed out a significant relationship between soils crusting on SOC erosion. It showed that the formation of loose and sandy crusts provides greater SOC protection from water erosion, which in turn may improve SOC stabilization and associated soil functions, such as soil fertility, water-holding capacity and sequestration of atmospheric carbon.

Lichen species dominance and the resulting photosynthetic behavior of Sonoran Desert soil crust types (Baja California, Mexico)

IntroductionLichen dominated biological soil crusts (BSCs) occur over large areas in the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern USA and northwest Mexico. In Baja California BSCs show a distinct patchiness and several types can be distinguished. Two chlorolichen- and two cyanolichen-dominated BSCs were selected. We hypothesize that patchiness and the resulting domination of certain functional lichen groups will result in patchiness of photosynthetic CO2-uptake related to environmental factors as well.MethodsFour different soil crust samples were placed in cuvettes and their CO2 exchange was recorded in an open system with an infrared gas analyzer. Air blown over the BSCs had a controlled CO2 content of 350 ppm. Four cuvettes were operated in parallel. Photosynthetic CO2 exchange was continually recorded throughout the experiment.ResultsBesides the dominating chlorolichens Psora decipiens and Placidium squamulosum and the cyanolichens Peltula patellata and P. richardsii, several other lichen species and 12 cyanobacterial species were found in the biological soil crusts sampled. The chlorolichen BSCs already gained positive net photosynthesis with high air humidity alone, while the cyanolichen types did not, but showed smaller CO2-uptake depression after water suprasaturation. Such specific net photosynthesis responses to mode of hydration and to crust water content seem to correlate with precipitation characteristics of their habitat.ConclusionsSpecies specific photosynthetic performance related to activation of respiration and net photosynthesis as well as to crust water content help to explain niche occupation and species composition of BSCs. Different functional types have to be considered when they have a patchy distribution.

Long-term changes in biological soil crust cover and composition

Communities change over time due to disturbances, variations in climate, and species invasions. Biological soil crust communities are important because they contribute to erosion control and nutrient cycling. Crust types may respond differently to changes in environmental conditions: single-celled organisms and bryophytes quickly recover after a disturbance, while lichens are slow growing and dominate favorable sites. Community change in crusts has seldom been assessed using repeated measures. For this study, we hypothesized that changes in crust composition were related to disturbance, topographic position, and invasive vegetation. We monitored permanent plots in the Columbia Basin in 1999 and 2010 and compared changes in crust composition, cover, richness, and turnover with predictor variables of herbivore exclosure, elevation, heat load index, time since fire, presence of an invasive grass, and change in cover of the invasive grass. Bryophytes were cosmopolitan with high cover. Dominant lichens did not change dramatically. Indicator taxa differed by monitoring year. Bryophyte and total crust cover declined, and there was lower turnover outside of herbivore exclosures. Lichen cover did not change significantly. Plots that burned recently had high turnover. Increase in taxon richness was correlated with presence of an invasive grass in 1999. Change in cover of the invasive grass was positively related to proportional loss and negatively related to gain. Composition and turnover metrics differed significantly over 11 years, though cover was more stable between years. This study can be a baseline for assessing change in crust composition due to anthropogenic influences.

Stochastic velocity inversion of seismic reflection/refraction traveltime data for rift structure of the southwest Barents Sea

We present results from an active-source, onshore–offshore seismic reflection/refraction transect acquired as part of the PETROBAR project (Petroleum-related studies of the Barents Sea region). The 700km-long profile is oriented NW–SE, coincident with previously published multichannel seismic reflection profiles. We utilize layer-based raytracing in a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) inversion to determine a probabilistic velocity model constraining the sedimentary rocks, crystalline crust, and uppermost mantle in a complex tectonic regime. The profile images a wide range of crustal types and ages, from Proterozoic craton to Paleozoic to early Cenozoic rift basins; and volcanics related to Eocene continental breakup with Greenland. Our analyses indicate a complex architecture of the crystalline crust along the profile, with crystalline crustal thicknesses ranging from 43km beneath the Varanger Peninsula to 12km beneath the Bjørnøya Basin. Assuming an original, post-Caledonide crustal thickness of 35km in the offshore area, we calculate the cumulative thinning (β) factors along the entire profile. The average β factor along the profile is 1.7±0.1, suggesting 211–243km of extension, consistent with the amount of overlap derived from published plate reconstructions. Local β factors approach 3, where Bjørnøya Basin reaches a depth of more than 13km. Volcanics, carbonates, salt, diagenesis and metamorphism make deep sedimentary basin fill difficult to distinguish from original, pre-rift crystalline crust, and thus actual stretching may in places exceed our estimates.