Diverse methane concentrations in anoxic brines and underlying sediments, eastern Mediterranean Sea

Elevated methane (CH 4) concentrations (128–2692×10 3 nM) occur in the hypersaline anoxic brine pools of Bannock and Urania Basins, eastern Mediterranean Sea, compared to low concentrations (17–80×10 3 nM) in the sediments below the anoxic brines. The CH 4 enrichment in the brines might be due to th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Deep-sea research. Part I, Oceanographic research papers Oceanographic research papers, 2000-10, Vol.47 (10), p.1999-2008
Main Author: Karisiddaiah, S.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anoxic brine pools
Bannock and Urania Basins
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Eastern Mediterranean Sea
Enriched methane concentrations
Exact sciences and technology
Marine
Marine and continental quaternary
Marine biology
Methane
Oceanography
Sediments
Surficial geology
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Summary:Elevated methane (CH 4) concentrations (128–2692×10 3 nM) occur in the hypersaline anoxic brine pools of Bannock and Urania Basins, eastern Mediterranean Sea, compared to low concentrations (17–80×10 3 nM) in the sediments below the anoxic brines. The CH 4 enrichment in the brines might be due to the long residence time of the brine in the Basin. An attempt is made to determine the sources for the enriched dissolved CH 4 by considering the influence of hydrothermal activity, the occurrence of sapropel layers (biogenic) and dissolution of gas hydrates. Furthermore, it is suggested that the enriched CH 4 in Bannock and Urania Basins is diffused and mixed with the overlying waters by local upward transport mechanisms that selectively move CH 4 upward in these Basins.
ISSN:0967-0637
1879-0119
DOI:10.1016/S0967-0637(00)00010-8