Impact of Upward Oxygen Diffusion From the Oceanic Crust on the Magnetostratigraphy and Iron Biomineralization of East Pacific Ridge-Flank Sediments

Recent measurements of pore-water oxygen profiles in ridge flank sediments of the East Pacific Rise revealed an upward-directed diffusive oxygen flux from the hydrothermally active crust into the overlying sediment. This double-sided oxygenation from above and below results in a dual redox transition from an oxic sedimentary environment near the seabed through suboxic conditions at sediment mid-depth back to oxic conditions in the deeper basal sediment. The potential impact of this redox reversal on the paleo- and rock magnetic record was analyzed for three sediment cores from the Clarion-Clipperton-Zone (low-latitude eastern North Pacific). We found that the upward-directed crustal oxygen flux does not impede high quality reversal-based and relative paleointensity-refined magnetostratigraphic dating. Despite low and variable sedimentation rates of 0.1–0.8 cm/kyr, robust magnetostratigraphic core chronologies comprising the past 3.4 resp. 5.2 million years could be established. These age-models support previous findings of significant local sedimentation rate variations that are probably related to the bottom current interactions with the topographic roughness of the young ridge flanks. However, we observed some obvious paleomagnetic irregularities localized at the lower oxic/suboxic redox boundaries of the investigated sediments. When analyzing these apparently remagnetized sections in detail, we found no evidence of physical disturbance or chemical alteration. A sharp increase in single-domain magnetite concentration just below the present lower oxic/suboxic redox boundary suggests secondary magnetite biomineralization by microaerophilic magnetotactic bacteria living as a separate community in the lower, upward oxygenated part of the sediment column. We therefore postulate a two-phased post-depositional remanent magnetization of ridge flank sediments, first by a shallow and later by a deep-living community of magnetotactic bacteria. These findings are the first evidence of a second, deep population of probably inversely oriented magnetotactic bacteria residing in the inverse oxygen gradient zone of ridge flank sediments.

Ground thermal contrasts and variability at an alpine pyramidal peak in central Austria (Innerer Knorrkogel, Venediger Mountains)

<p>Ground temperatures in alpine environments are severely influenced by slope orientation (aspect), slope inclination, local topoclimatic conditions, and thermal properties of the rock material. Small differences in one of these factors may substantially impact the ground thermal regime, weathering by freeze-thaw action or the occurrence of permafrost. To improve the understanding of differences, variations, and ranges of ground temperatures at single mountain summits, we studied the ground thermal conditions at a triangle-shaped (plan view), moderately steep pyramidal peak over a two-year period (2018-2020).</p><p>We installed 18 monitoring sites with 23 sensors near the summit of Innerer Knorrkogel (2882m asl), in summer 2018 with one- and multi-channel datalogger (Geoprecision). All three mountain ridges (east-, northwest-, and southwest-facing) and flanks (northeast-, west-, and south-facing) were instrumented with one-channel dataloggers at two different elevations (2840 and 2860m asl) at each ridge/flank to monitor ground surface temperatures. Three bedrock temperature monitoring sites with shallow boreholes (40cm) equipped with three sensors per site at each of the three mountain flanks (2870m asl) were established. Additionally, two ground surface temperature monitoring sites were installed at the summit.</p><p>Results show remarkable differences in mean annual ground temperatures (MAGT) between the 23 different sensors and the two years despite the small spatial extent (0.023 km²) and elevation differences (46m). Intersite variability at the entire mountain pyramid was 3.74°C in 2018/19 (mean MAGT: -0.40°C; minimum: -1.78°C; maximum: 1.96°C;) and 3.27°C in 2019/20 (mean MAGT: 0.08°C; minimum: -1.54°C; maximum: 1,73°C;). Minimum was in both years at the northeast-facing flank, maximum at the south-facing flank. In all but three sites, the second monitoring year was warmer than the first one (mean +0.48°C) related to atmospheric differences and site-specific snow conditions. The comparison of the MAGT-values of the two years (MAGT-2018/19 minus MAGT-2019/20) revealed large thermal inhomogeneities in the mountain summit ranging from +0.65° (2018/19 warmer than 2019/20) to -1.76°C (2018/19 colder than 2019/20) at identical sensors. Temperature ranges at the three different aspects but at equal elevations were 1.7-2.2°C at ridges and 1.8-3.7°C at flanks for single years. The higher temperature range for flank-sites is related to seasonal snow cover effects combined with higher radiation at sun-exposed sites. Although the ground temperature was substantially higher in the second year, the snow cover difference between the two years was variable. Some sites experienced longer snow cover periods in the second year 2019/20 (up to +85 days) whereas at other sites the opposite was observed (up to -85 days). Other frost weathering-related indicators (diurnal freeze-thaw cycles, frost-cracking window) show also large intersite and interannual differences.</p><p>Our study shows that the thermal regime at a triangle-shaped moderately steep pyramidal peak is very heterogeneous between different aspects and landforms (ridge/flank/summit) and between two monitoring years confirming earlier monitoring and modelling results. Due to high intersite and interannual variabilities, temperature-related processes such as frost-weathering can vary largely between neighbouring sites. Our study highlights the need for systematic and long-term ground temperature monitoring in alpine terrain to improve the understanding of small- to medium-scale temperature variabilities.</p>

Magnetostratigraphic effects and artifacts of an inverse redox zonation in bottom-up oxygenated East Pacific mid-ocean ridge flank sediments

<p><span>Shipborne ex-situ oxygen measurements in mid-ocean ridge flank sediment cores from the eastern low-latitude North Pacific (Clarion-Clipperton Zone) revealed a downward increase of pore-water oxygen above the sediment-crust interface (Mewes et al., 2016, Kuhn et al., 2017). This inverse redox zonation is caused by an upward diffusion of oxygen (and other solutes) from fluids circulating through the underlying 20 Mio. Year old and still cooling ocean crust. In consequence, these sediments experience a cyclic change in redox-conditions from oxic seafloor conditions at the top through mostly suboxic conditions throughout the sediment column back to oxygen-rich pore water in the last few sediment meters above the rock basement. </span></p><p><span>We studied paleomagnetic records and bulk magnetic properties of three gravity cores from such settings that were collected during </span><span><em>RV Sonne</em></span><span> expedition SO-240 in 2015 and obtained high-quality magnetostratigraphic records covering the past 3.2 Ma. The generally very good preservation and interpretability of our reversal and RPI records, however, conflicts with a well-defined, but irregular ‘ghost event’ of normal polarity within the upper Gilbert reversed C2Ar section. This magnetic polarity and intensity artifact cannot be explained by sediment tectonics, but coincides with the present depth of the lower suboxic-to-oxic redox boundary. Although chemical overprinting could be considered as an obvious explanation of such findings, bulk magnetic analyses (FORCs, thermomagnetics) infer no diagenetic alteration of the magnetic minerals. Over the entire paleomagnetic record, bacterial magnetite appears to be the predominant NRM carrier. We therefore introduce a novel conceptual model of secondary biogenic magnetite formation at crustal depth, hypothesizing that microaerophilic magnetotactic bacteria live and biomineralize not only in the shallow subsurface, but also near the deep oxygen above the sediment-crust interface.</span></p><p> </p><p><span>References </span></p><p><span>Mewes, K., Mogollón, J.M., Picard, A., Rühlemann, C., Eisenhauer, A., Kuhn, T., Ziebis, W., Kasten, S., 2016. Diffusive transfer of oxygen from seamount basaltic crust into overlying sediments: An example from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 433, 215-225.</span></p><p><span>Kuhn, T., Versteegh, G.J.M., Villinger, H., Dohrmann, I., Heller, C., Koschinsky, A., Kaul, N., Ritter, S., Wegorzewski, A.V., Kasten, S., 2017. Widespread seawater circulation in 18-22 Ma oceanic crust: Impact on heat flow and sediment geochemistry. Geology 45, 799-802.</span></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

Indigenous Ammonia-Oxidizing Archaea in Oxic Subseafloor Oceanic Crust

ABSTRACT Oceanic ridge flank systems represent one of the largest and least-explored microbial habitats on Earth. Fundamental ecological questions regarding community activity, recruitment, and succession in this environment remain unanswered. Here, we investigated ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in the sediment-buried basalts on the oxic and young ridge flank at North Pond, a sediment-filled pond on the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and compared them with those in the overlying sediments and bottom seawater. Nitrification in the North Pond basement is thermodynamically favorable and is supported by a reaction-transport model simulating the dynamics of nitrate in the crustal fluids. Nitrification rate is estimated to account for 6% to 7% of oxygen consumption, which is similar to the ratios found in marine oxic sediments, suggesting that aerobic mineralization of organic matter is the major ammonium source for crustal nitrifiers. Using the archaeal 16S rRNA and amoA genes as phylogenetic markers, we show that AOA, composed solely of Nitrosopumilaceae, are the major archaeal dwellers at North Pond. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that the crustal AOA communities are distinct from those in the bottom seawater and the upper oxic sediments but are similar to those in the basal part of the overlying sediment column, suggesting either similar environmental selection or the dispersal of microbes across the sediment-basement interface. Additionally, quantitative abundance data suggest enrichment of the dominant Nitrosopumilaceae clade (Eta clade) in the basement compared to the seawater. This study explored AOA and their activity in the upper oceanic crust, and our results have ecological implications for the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen in the crustal subsurface. IMPORTANCE Ridge flanks represent the major avenue of chemical and heat exchange between the Earth’s oceans and the lithosphere and are thought to harbor an enormous and understudied biosphere. However, little is known about the diversity and functionality of the crustal biosphere. Here, we report an indigenous community of archaea specialized in ammonia oxidation (i.e., AOA) in the oxic oceanic crust at North Pond. These AOA are the dominant archaea and are likely responsible for most of the cycling taking place in the first step of nitrification, a feasible nitrogen cycling step in the oxic basement. The crustal AOA community structure significantly differs from that in deep ocean water but is similar to that of the community in the overlying sediments in close proximity. This report links the occurrence of AOA to their metabolic activity in the oxic subseafloor crust and suggests that ecological selection and in situ proliferation may shape the microbial community structure in the rocky subsurface.

Mixing-Driven Mean Flows and Submesoscale Eddies over Mid-Ocean Ridge Flanks and Fracture Zone Canyons

To close the abyssal overturning circulation, dense bottom water has to become lighter by mixing with lighter water above. This diapycnal mixing is strongly enhanced over rough topography in abyssal mixing layers, which span the bottom few hundred meters of the water column. In particular, mixing rates are enhanced over mid-ocean ridge systems, which extend for thousands of kilometers in the global ocean and are thought to be key contributors to the required abyssal water mass transformation. To examine how stratification and thus diabatic transformation is maintained in such abyssal mixing layers, this study explores the circulation driven by bottom-intensified mixing over mid-ocean ridge flanks and within ridge-flank canyons. Idealized numerical experiments show that stratification over the ridge flanks is maintained by submesoscale baroclinic eddies and that stratification within ridge-flank canyons is maintained by mixing-driven mean flows. These restratification processes affect how strong a diabatic buoyancy flux into the abyss can be maintained, and they are essential for maintaining the dipole in water mass transformation that has emerged as the hallmark of a diabatic circulation driven by bottom-intensified mixing.