Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets
Abstract The major ion chemistry of the ocean has been assumed to be controlled by river input, hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges, carbonate production, and low-temperature alteration of seafloor basalt, but marine chemical budgets remain difficult to balance. Here we propose that large-s...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44919-7 |
| _version_ | 1827326906266025984 |
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| author | Alicia M. Wilson Andrew Osborne Scott M. White |
| author_facet | Alicia M. Wilson Andrew Osborne Scott M. White |
| author_sort | Alicia M. Wilson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The major ion chemistry of the ocean has been assumed to be controlled by river input, hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges, carbonate production, and low-temperature alteration of seafloor basalt, but marine chemical budgets remain difficult to balance. Here we propose that large-scale groundwater flow and diagenetic reactions in continental shelf sediments have been overlooked as an important contributor to major ion budgets in the ocean. Based on data synthesized from 17 passive margin basins, continental shelves contribute fluid exchanges comparable to hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges. Chemical exchange is similarly significant, indicating removal of Mg2+ from the oceans at rates similar to mid-ocean ridge convection. Continental shelves likely contribute Ca2+ and K+ to the oceans at rates that, in combination with low-temperature basalt alteration, can close current budget deficits. Flow and reaction in continental shelf sediments should be included in a new generation of studies addressing marine isotope budgets. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:52:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-234d81d23dc14dd2974516caab868ce7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:52:17Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-234d81d23dc14dd2974516caab868ce72024-03-05T19:36:23ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-02-0115111010.1038/s41467-024-44919-7Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgetsAlicia M. Wilson0Andrew Osborne1Scott M. White2School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment University of South CarolinaSchool of the Earth, Ocean and Environment University of South CarolinaSchool of the Earth, Ocean and Environment University of South CarolinaAbstract The major ion chemistry of the ocean has been assumed to be controlled by river input, hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges, carbonate production, and low-temperature alteration of seafloor basalt, but marine chemical budgets remain difficult to balance. Here we propose that large-scale groundwater flow and diagenetic reactions in continental shelf sediments have been overlooked as an important contributor to major ion budgets in the ocean. Based on data synthesized from 17 passive margin basins, continental shelves contribute fluid exchanges comparable to hydrothermal circulation at mid-ocean ridges. Chemical exchange is similarly significant, indicating removal of Mg2+ from the oceans at rates similar to mid-ocean ridge convection. Continental shelves likely contribute Ca2+ and K+ to the oceans at rates that, in combination with low-temperature basalt alteration, can close current budget deficits. Flow and reaction in continental shelf sediments should be included in a new generation of studies addressing marine isotope budgets.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44919-7 |
| spellingShingle | Alicia M. Wilson Andrew Osborne Scott M. White Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets Nature Communications |
| title | Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets |
| title_full | Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets |
| title_fullStr | Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets |
| title_short | Large-scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets |
| title_sort | large scale groundwater flow and sedimentary diagenesis in continental shelves influence marine chemical budgets |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44919-7 |
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