Cenozoic/Mesozoic variability of seawater sulfate concentrations

海水硫酸盐浓度的新生代/中生代变化

• 批准号: 261234-2013
• 负责人: Wortmann, UlrichGeorg
• 金额: $ 2.91万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=547693
• 关键词: Cenozoic; Mesozoic; variability; seawater; sulfate

Microbial sulfate reduction (MSR) is the fundamental process linking the biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C), oxygen (O), sulfur (S) and phosphorous (P). MSR respires approximately 85% of all sedimentary organic matter in marine sediments, and is thus a major control on atmospheric oxygen levels. MSR is also a key element for anaerobic methane oxidation, which critically controls the flux of methane (a major greenhouse gas) across the sediment water interface. MSR depends on sulfate as an electron acceptor, and variable sulfate concentrations affect this process in a non-linear way (Wortmann & Chernyavsky, Nature, 2007). While it is generally assumed that marine sulfate concentrations have been fairly stable through time (about 28mmol/l), I recently published the hypothesis that seawater sulfate concentrations fluctuated between 1 to 30 mmol/l throughout the last 130 Ma (Wortmann & Paytan, Science, 2012). Sulfate concentration changes of this magnitude will alter organic matter remineralization rates by a factor of three (Wortmann & Chernyavsky, 2007), affect microbial nitrogen fixation, and considerably modify the size of the marine phosphate reservoir, a major control on ocean fertility. Furthermore, it is likely that variable sulfate concentrations will influence the concentration of sulfate aerosols thus altering the radiative properties of the atmosphere (Wortmann & Paytan, 2012). Given the far reaching consequences of variable seawater sulfate concentrations, it is important to understand the robustness of this hypothesis. Here I propose to use a combination of modeling and fieldwork to evaluate whether alternative explanations are consistent with the geologic record and our understanding of ocean chemistry. These research questions are at the leading edge of the field and will result in high impact publications, furthering the international reputation of Canada's research competence. This proposal provides opportunities to train three Ph.D. and six M.Sc. students in data analysis, wet chemical laboratory methods, stable isotope analysis, computer programming, and international collaboration. These skills build the foundations for Canada's next generation of academic and business leaders.

微生物硫酸盐还原是连接碳(C)、氧(O)、硫(S)和磷(P)的生物地球化学循环的基本过程。MSR呼吸大约85%的海洋沉积物中的沉积有机质，因此是大气氧气水平的主要控制因素。MSR也是厌氧甲烷氧化的关键因素，它关键地控制甲烷(一种主要温室气体)通过沉积物水界面的通量。MSR依赖于硫酸盐作为电子受体，而不同的硫酸盐浓度以一种非线性的方式影响这一过程(Wortmann&Chernyavsky，自然，2007)。虽然人们通常假设海水硫酸盐浓度随着时间的推移一直相当稳定(约28 mmol/L)，但我最近发表了一种假设，即在过去130 Ma期间，海水硫酸盐浓度在1至30 mmoL/L之间波动(Wortmann&Paytan，科学，2012年)。这种规模的硫酸盐浓度变化将使有机质再矿化速率改变三倍(Wortmann&Chernyavsky，2007)，影响微生物固氮，并显著改变海洋磷酸盐水库的大小，这是海洋肥力的主要控制因素。此外，不同的硫酸盐浓度可能会影响硫酸盐气溶胶的浓度，从而改变大气的辐射特性(Wortmann&Paytan，2012)。考虑到海水硫酸盐浓度变化的深远影响，理解这一假设的稳健性很重要。在这里，我建议使用模拟和实地工作相结合的方法来评估其他解释是否与地质记录和我们对海洋化学的理解一致。这些研究问题处于该领域的前沿，并将导致影响很大的出版物，进一步提高加拿大研究能力的国际声誉。这项提议提供了培养三名博士和六名硕士的机会。学生学习数据分析、湿化学实验室方法、稳定同位素分析、计算机编程和国际合作。这些技能为加拿大的下一代学术和商业领袖奠定了基础。