A5076596540- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Spacecraft and Cryogenic Technologies
- Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Geological Modeling and Analysis
- Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas Dynamics
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Offshore Engineering and Technologies
- Geological Studies and Exploration
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- earthquake and tectonic studies
- Satellite Image Processing and Photogrammetry
- Inertial Sensor and Navigation
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Seismic Imaging and Inversion Techniques
- Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
Lehigh University
2016-2024
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
2010-2020
University of Toronto
2015-2020
International Ocean Discovery Program
2019
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2015-2017
Dartmouth Hospital
2015
Dartmouth College
2015
University of New Hampshire
2011
Significance Arguments for an abiotic origin of organic compounds in deep-sea hot springs are compelling because their potential role the life and sustaining microbial communities. Theory predicts that warm H 2 -rich fluids circulating through serpentinizing systems create a favorable thermodynamic drive inorganic carbon reduction to compounds. We show synthesis proceeds by two spatially temporally distinct mechanisms. Abundant dissolved CH 4 higher hydrocarbons likely formed fluid...
Thirty years after the first discovery of high-temperature submarine venting, vast majority global mid-ocean ridge remains unexplored for hydrothermal activity. Of particular interest are world's ultraslow spreading ridges that were last to be demonstrated host venting but may systems particularly relevant prebiotic chemistry and origins life. Here we report evidence previously unknown, diverse, very deep vents along approximately 110 km long, Mid-Cayman Rise (MCR). Our data indicate MCR...
Significance Simple alkyl thiols such as methanethiol are widely speculated to spontaneously form in seafloor hot spring fluids and implicated facilitating the emergence of protometabolism microbial life early Earth hydrothermal systems, complexation hydrothermally derived metals, fuels for ecosystems. Existing models suggest that forms by nonbiological reduction inorganic carbon (CO 2 or CO). We demonstrate is actively produced low-temperature mixing zones but our data it thermal...
Warm fluids emanating from hydrothermal vents can be used as windows into the rocky subseafloor habitat and its resident microbial community. Two new vent systems on Mid-Cayman Rise each exhibits novel geologic settings distinctively hydrogen-rich fluid compositions. We have determined compared chemistry, potential energy yielding reactions, abundance, community composition, diversity, function of microbes in venting both sites: Piccard, world's deepest site, hosted mafic rocks; Von Damm, an...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) quantification and sequencing are emerging techniques for assessing biodiversity in marine ecosystems. can be transported by ocean currents may remain at detectable concentrations far from its source depending on how long it persist. Thus, predicting the persistence time of eDNA is crucial to defining spatial context information derived it. To investigate physicochemical controls persistence, we performed degradation experiments temperature, pH, oxygen conditions...
Metabarcoding analysis of environmental DNA samples is a promising new tool for marine biodiversity and conservation. Typically, seawater are obtained using Niskin bottles filtered to collect eDNA. However, standard sample volumes small relative the scale environment, conventional collection strategies limited, filtration process time consuming. To overcome these limitations, we developed large – volume eDNA sampler with in situ filtration, capable taking up 12 per deployment. We conducted...
Little is known about evolutionary drivers of microbial populations in the warm subseafloor deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Here we reconstruct 73 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from two geochemically distinct vent fields Mid-Cayman Rise to investigate patterns genomic variation within populations. Low-abundance with high intra-population diversity coexist alongside high-abundance low diversity, taxonomic differences between mafic Piccard and ultramafic Von Damm fields. Populations are...
Hosted in basaltic substrate on the ultra-slow spreading Mid-Cayman Rise, Piccard hydrothermal field is deepest currently known seafloor hot-spring (4957–4987 m). Due to its great depth, site an excellent natural system for investigating influence of extreme pressure formation submarine vent fluids. To investigate role rock composition and deep circulation conditions fluid chemistry, abundance isotopic organic, inorganic, dissolved volatile species high temperature fluids at were examined...
Abstract The discovery of hydrogen-rich waters preserved below the Earth’s surface in Precambrian rocks worldwide expands our understanding habitability terrestrial subsurface. Many deep microbial ecosystems these survive by coupling hydrogen oxidation to sulfate reduction. Hydrogen originates from water–rock reactions including serpentinization and radiolytic decomposition water induced decay radioactive elements host rocks. origin dissolved sulfate, however, remains unknown. Here we...
Significance Hydrothermal fluid geochemistry exerts a key control on subseafloor microbial community structure and function. However, the effects of metabolic activity, thermal decomposition biomass, abiotic reactions remain unconstrained. Depletions in molecular hydrogen enrichments methane submarine hydrothermal mixing zones have been interpreted to reflect influence an active biosphere. In contrast, our work reveals that these chemical shifts are driven by thermogenic processes at...
The deep continental biosphere is supported by chemolithoautotrophy and depends on rock-derived substrates for energy. majority of microorganisms in these crustal environments are likely attached to mineral surfaces within rock fractures, making characterization life challenging. To better understand both biogeochemical cycling mineral-hosted microbial communities the subsurface, we characterized naturally occurring particulate associated biomass collected from boreholes drilled into a 2.7...
Hydrothermal circulation at the axis of fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges is intrinsically linked to magmatic activity, which typically fluctuates on decadal time scales, i.e., characteristic recurrence eruptions. While hydrothermal vent temperatures are known fluctuate in response sudden events such as dike intrusions or seismic swarms, their longer-term processes replenishment an axial melt lens (AML) remain poorly documented. Here we focus high-temperature vents from 9°50'N segment...
Comprehensive knowledge of the distribution active hydrothermal vent fields along midocean ridges is essential to understanding global chemical and heat fluxes endemic faunal distributions. However, current biased by a historical preference for on-axis surveys. A scarcity high-resolution bathymetric surveys in off-axis regions limits identification, which implies that number vents may be underestimated. Here, we present discovery an active, high-temperature, field on fast-spreading ridge....
Abstract Seafloor volcanic eruptions are difficult to directly observe due lengthy eruption cycles and the remote location of mid‐ocean ridges. Volcanic in 2005–2006 at 9°50′N on East Pacific Rise have been well documented, but lava volume flow extent remain uncertain because limited near‐bottom bathymetric data. We present data collected during 19 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Sentry dives 2018, 2019, 2021. The resulting 1 m‐resolution grid 20 cm‐resolution sidescan sonar images cover...
Abstract Explosive volcanic eruptions lead to ash deposition and subsequent leaching of contaminants into soils or surface water, impacting flora fauna, including human health. This study determined the control area chemical composition on dissolution rates. Fresh, unhydrated samples from four contrasting volcanoes were analyzed in laboratory. Column leachate tests used compare rates over a range basaltic andesitic ashes as function time area, analyze effects deposition. It was found that...
Abstract Fissures and faults provide insight into how plate separation is accommodated by magmatism brittle deformation during crustal accretion. Although fissure fault geometry can be used to quantify the spreading process at mid‐ocean ridges, accurate measurements are rare due insufficiently detailed mapping data. Here, fissures fast‐spreading 9°50′N segment of East Pacific Rise were mapped using bathymetric data collected 1‐m horizontal resolution autonomous underwater vehicle Sentry ....
In isolated fracture networks in the Precambrian Shield, long-term water and rock interactions produce saline anoxic fluids that host extant microbial communities deep within continental subsurface. Light oxygen (O2) are absent these environments. Thus, chemotrophic organisms inhabiting systems rely on anaerobic reactions for energy. Viable electron donors include short-chain alkanes, such as methane (CH4) C2+ while alternative acceptors sulfate (SO2−4), nitrate (NO−3), ferric iron (Fe3+)....