HR: 1340h
AN: B43E-1652    [Abstracts]
TI: Natural Gas - Microbe Interactions in Southern California Bight Seep Environments
AU: * Kinnaman, F S
EM: fkinnaman@gmail.com
AF: Graduate Program in Marine Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, United States
AU: Valentine, D L
EM: valentine@geol.ucsb.edu
AF: Dept of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, United States
AB: The microbial consumption of methane (C1), ethane (C2), propane (C3) and n-butane (nC4) was investigated by quantifying the distributions of these gases and other related chemicals in marine gas seeps, and through laboratory incubations of seep sediment. In-situ porewater samplers (peepers) were deployed in the sediments surrounding hydrocarbon seeps at Santa Monica Basin, Santa Barbara Basin and Coal Oil Point and were used along with traditional coring techniques to quantify the natural distributions of C1-C4 hydrocarbons. Chemical distributions display major distinctions based upon the distance to a gas vent, even over distances of only 30 cm. This data and preliminary methane oxidation rate measurements suggest high rates of methane oxidation in close proximity to natural gas vents and the possible preferential degradation of higher hydrocarbons at shallower depths. Additional sediment incubation experiments are underway, and results will be presented.
DE: 0400 BIOGEOSCIENCES
DE: 0404 Anoxic and hypoxic environments (4802, 4834)
DE: 0428 Carbon cycling (4806)
DE: 0460 Marine systems (4800)
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting