scholarly journals Occurrence, sources and transport pathways of natural and anthropogenic hydrocarbons in deep-sea sediments of the eastern Mediterranean Sea

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 6069-6089 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Parinos ◽  
A. Gogou ◽  
I. Bouloubassi ◽  
R. Pedrosa-Pàmies ◽  
I. Hatzianestis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Transport Pathways ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Deep Sea Sediments ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Abstract. Surface sediments collected from deep basins (1018–4087 m depth) of the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Ionian Sea, southern Aegean Sea and northwestern Levantine Sea) were analyzed for aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as tracers of natural and anthropogenic inputs. Concentrations of total aliphatic hydrocarbons, n-alkanes and the unresolved complex mixture (UCM) of aliphatic hydrocarbons varied significantly, ranging from 1.34 to 49.2 μg g−1, 145 to 4810 ng g−1 and 0.73 to 36.7 μg g−1, respectively, while concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) ranged between 11.6 and 223 ng g−1. Molecular profiles of determined hydrocarbons reflect a mixed contribution from both natural and anthropogenic sources in deep-sea sediments of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, i.e., terrestrial plant waxes, degraded petroleum products, unburned fossil fuels and combustion of grass, wood and coal. Hydrocarbon mixtures display significant variability amongst sub-regions, reflecting differences in the relative importance of inputs from various sources and phase associations/transport pathways of individual hydrocarbons that impact on their overall distribution and fate. Hydrocarbon concentrations correlated significantly with the organic carbon content of sediments, indicating that the latter exerts an important control on their transport and ultimate accumulation in deep basins. Additionally, water masses' circulation characteristics also seem to influence the regional features and distribution patterns of hydrocarbons. Our findings highlight the role of deep basins/canyons as repositories of both natural and anthropogenic chemical species.

scholarly journals Downward fluxes of elemental carbon, metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in settling particles from the deep Ionian Sea (NESTOR site), Eastern Mediterranean

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 19165-19197 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Theodosi ◽  
C. Parinos ◽  
A. Gogou ◽  
A. Kokotos ◽  
S. Stavrakakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Elemental Carbon ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Vertical Transport ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Ionian Sea ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Abstract. To assess sources and major processes controlling vertical transport of both anthropogenic and natural chemical species in deep basins of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (SE Ionian Sea, Nestor site), we performed chemical characterization (elemental carbon, major and trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) of marine sinking particles. Sediment traps were deployed at five successive depths, 700 m, 1200 m, 2000 m, 3200 m and 4300 m from the sea surface, during the period of May 2007 to October 2008. Fluxes of all measured species exhibited minimum values from January to March 2008 and maximum from April to September 2008, with an evident covariance revealing a common and rapid vertical transport mechanism from 700 m down to 4300 m depth. Crustal matter flux from atmospheric deposition plays an important role in the temporal variability of particulate matter with significant contribution from biogenic constituents namely the seasonal succession in the export of planktonic biomass, expressed by particulate organic carbon (POC), carbonates and biogenic Si fluxes (Stavrakakis et al., 2012). Tracers (elemental carbon, retene) of the devastating forest fires occurred in August 2007 in southern Greece, were detected at sediment trap material in all depths with a delay of 15 days at 4300 m, indicating a rapid and well-coupled transport of sinking particulate material between the sea-surface and deep layers of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Lateral inputs of pollutants at the deepest trap (4300 m) are probably of importance, due to the influence of deep Adriatic water at the study site.

scholarly journals Downward fluxes of elemental carbon, metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in settling particles from the deep Ionian Sea (NESTOR site), Eastern Mediterranean

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 4449-4464 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Theodosi ◽  
C. Parinos ◽  
A. Gogou ◽  
A. Kokotos ◽  
S. Stavrakakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Elemental Carbon ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Chemical Species ◽  
Sea Surface ◽  
Ionian Sea ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

Abstract. To assess sources and major processes controlling the vertical transport of both anthropogenic and natural chemical species in a deep basin of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (SE Ionian Sea, Nestor site), we performed chemical characterization (elemental carbon, major and trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) of marine sinking particles. Sediment traps were deployed at five successive depths, 700, 1200, 2000, 3200 and 4300 m from the sea surface from May 2007 to October 2008. Fluxes of all measured chemical species, attributed to both natural and anthropogenic sources, exhibited minimum values from January to March 2008 and maximum from April to September 2008. Crustal matter flux from atmospheric inputs – either "freshly" deposited or stored in the surface layers – plays an important role in the temporal variability of particulate marine matter fluxes along with particulate organic carbon export, imposing ballast effects. Tracers (elemental carbon, retene) of the devastating forest fires that occurred in August 2007 in southern Greece were detected in sediment trap material from all depths with a delay of 15 days at 4300 m, indicating a rapid and well-coupled transport of sinking particulate material between the sea-surface and deep layers of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. This is in accordance with an evident covariance between certain compounds, suggesting common sources and/or transport mechanisms to depth. Lateral inputs of pollutants at the deepest trap (4300 m) are probably of importance, related to the periodic influence of deep Adriatic water at the study site.

scholarly journals Occurrence, sources and transport pathways of natural and anthropogenic hydrocarbons in deep-sea sediments of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 17999-18038 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Parinos ◽  
A. Gogou ◽  
I. Bouloubassi ◽  
R. Pedrosa-Pàmies ◽  
I. Hatzianestis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Petroleum Products ◽  
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Regional Variability ◽  
Transport Pathways ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. Surface sediments collected from deep basins (22 stations, 1018–4087 m depth) of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) were analyzed for aliphatic, triterpenoid and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as tracers of natural and anthropogenic inputs. Concentrations of total aliphatic hydrocarbons (TAHC), n-alkanes (NA) and the Unresolved Complex Mixture (UCM) of aliphatic hydrocarbons ranged from 1.34 to 49.2 µg g−1, 145 to 4810 ng g−1 and 0.73 to 36.7 µg g−1, respectively, while total PAHs (TPAH25) concentrations ranged from 11.6 to 223 ng g−1. Molecular profiles of aliphatic hydrocarbons and PAHs reflect the contribution of both natural (epicuticular plant waxes) and anthropogenic (degraded petroleum products, unburned fossil fuels and combustion of petroleum, grass, wood and coal) compounds in deep EMS sediments, with hydrocarbon mixtures displaying significant regional variability. Hydrocarbon concentrations correlated significantly with the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content of sediments, indicating that organic carbon exerts an important control on their transport and fate in the study area, while strong sub-basin and mesoscale variability of water masses also impact their regional characteristics. Major findings of this study support that deep basins/canyons of the EMS could act as traps of both natural and anthropogenic hydrocarbons.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document