137Cs in waters and bottom sediments of the Sea of Japan in 2002 and 1994

During an expedition aboard R/V Pavel Gordienko (September, 2002) investigations in the Sea of Japan areas, where radioactive wastes were disposed by the former Soviet Union, were carried out in order to assess present level of radioactive contamination of marine environment. Concentration of I37Cs, radioecologically one of the most important radionuclides, in near-bottom sea water and bottom sediments were measured to be low, 2.8-17.2 Bq/m**3 and 3.2-27.2 Bq/kg dry weight, respectively, that did not differ significantly from levels elsewhere in the northwest Pacific Ocean arising from global fallout. Results of measurements were compared with results of the Joint Japanese- Korean -Russian expedition to the Sea of Japan in 1994.

Gold and organic carbon in waters from the Bering Sea and the North Pacific

Atomic absorption spectroscopy is used to determine concentration of gold in waters of the Bering Sea and North Pacific. Distributions of gold and organic carbon in colloidal and "dissolved" fractions separated by ultrafiltration through Vladipor filters are determined. Direct evidence of gold association with colloidal matter of sea water is presented and concentrations of gold in various fractions of colloidal solutions are determined. The most important forms of occurrence of colloidal gold prove to be high molecular weight fractions, and the most important form of colloidal organic carbon (Corg) is low molecular fraction. Dissolved forms are important in the balance of gold and Corg. Variations in forms of occurrence of gold and Corg in vertical profiles are described.

Methane in waters and bottom sediments of the North (Severnaya) Dvina mouth area in 2004-2006

The mouth area of the North (Severnaya) Dvina River is characterized by a high concentrations of methane in water (from 1.0 to 165.4 µl/l) and bottom sediments (from 14 to 65000 µl/kg), being quite comparable to productive mouth areas of rivers from the temperate zone. Maximum methane concentrations in water and sediments were registered in the delta in segments of channels and branches with low rates of tidal and runoff currents, where domestic and industrial wastewaters are supplied. In the riverine and marine water mixing zone with its upper boundary, locating far into the delta and moving depending on a phase of the tidal cycle, decrease of methane concentration with salinity increase was observed. The prevailing role in formation of the methane concentration level in water of the mouth area pertains to bottom sediments, which is indicated by close correlation between gas concentrations in these two media. Existence of periodicity in variations of methane concentration in river water downstream caused by tidal effects was found.

Stable isotope composition of pore waters from ODP Site 195-1200 serpentinite mud, South Chamorrow Seamount

The South Chamorro Seamount is a serpentinite mud volcano near the southern end of the Mariana forearc. The mud volcano was sampled by drilling during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 195. Samples of pore water squeezed from serpentinite mud were analyzed for stable isotope compositions of carbon in dissolved inorganic carbon and methane, sulfur in sulfate and sulfide, and oxygen in sulfate.

Composition of sediments, hydrothermal manifestations, interstitial waters, and aeolian material from the TAG Hydrothermal Field and Central Atlantic

The book is devoted to regularities of spatial distribution, mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermal and hydrothermal-sedimentary manifestations of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge rift zone.

Amino acids and carbohydrates in sediments and interstitial waters of ODP Site 112-681

Total organic carbon (TOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA), amino sugars (THAS), and carbohydrates (THCHO) were measured in sediments and interstitial waters from Site 681 (ODP Leg 112). TOC concentrations vary between 0.75% and 8.2% by weight of dry sediment and exhibit a general decrease with depth. DOC concentrations range from 6.1 to 49.5 mg/L, but do not correlate with TOC concentrations in the sediment. Amino compounds (AA and AS) and sugars account for 0.5% to 8% and 0.5% to 3% of TOC, respectively, while amino compounds make up between 2% and 27% of total nitrogen. Dissolved hydrolyzable amino acids (free and combined) and amino sugars were found in concentrations from 3.7 to 150 µM and from 0.1 to 3.7 µM, respectively, and together account for an average of 8.5% of DOC. Dissolved hydrolyzable carbohydrates are in the range of 6 to 49 µM. Amino acid spectra are dominated by glycine, alanine, leucine, and phenylalanine; nonproteinaceous amino acids (gamma-amino butyric acid, beta-alanine, and ornithine) are enriched in the deeper part of the section, gamma-amino butyric acid and beta-alanine are thought to be indicators of continued microbial degradation of TOC. Glycine, serine, glutamic acid, alanine, aspartic acid, and ornithine are the dominating amino compounds in the pore waters. Spectra of carbohydrates in sediments are dominated by glucose, galactose, and mannose, while dissolved sugars are dominated by glucose and fructose. In contrast to the lack of correlation between abundances of bulk TOC and DOC in corresponding interstitial waters, amino compounds and sugars do show some correlation between sediments and pore waters: A depth increase of aspartic acid, serine, glycine, and glutamic acid in the pore waters is reflected in a decrease in the sediment, while an enrichment in valine, iso-leucine, leucine, and phenylalanine in the sediment is mirrored by a decrease in the interstitial waters. The distribution of individual hexoseamines appears to be related to zones of bacterial decomposition of organic matter. Low glucoseamine to galactoseamine ratios coincide with zones of sulfate depletion in the interstitial waters.