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Towards quantifying the reaction network around the sulfate–methane-transition-zone in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, with a kinetic modeling approach

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Title Towards quantifying the reaction network around the sulfate–methane-transition-zone in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, with a kinetic modeling approach
Names Hong, Wei-Li (creator)
Torres, Marta E. (creator)
Kim, Ji-Hoon (creator)
Choi, Jiyoung (creator)
Bahk, Jang-Jun (creator)
Date Issued 2014-09-01 (iso8601)
Note This is an author's peer-reviewed final manuscript, as accepted by the publisher. The published article is copyrighted by Elsevier and can be found at: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/geochimica-et-cosmochimica-acta/
Abstract We present a kinetic model based upon pore water data collected from eight sites drilled
during the second Ulleung Basin gas hydrate drilling expedition (UBGH2) in 2010.
Three sites were drilled at locations where acoustic chimneys were identified in seismic
data, and the rest were drilled on non-chimney (i.e. background) environments. Our
model, coupled a comprehensive compositional and isotopic data set, is used to
illustrate the different biogeochemical processes at play in those two environments, in
terms of reactions around the sulfate-methane-transition-zone (SMTZ). Organic matter
decomposition is an important process for production of methane, dissolved inorganic
carbon (DIC) and consumption of sulfate in the non-chimney sites, whereas anaerobic
oxidation of methane (AOM) dominates both carbon and sulfur cycles in the chimney
environment. Different sources of methane mediate AOM in the two settings. Internally
produced methane through CO₂ reduction (CR) and methanogenesis fuels AOM in the
non-chimney sites, whereas AOM is sustained by methane from external sources in the
chimney sites. We also simulate the system evolution from non-chimney to chimney
conditions by increasing the bottom methane supply to a non-chimney setting. We
show that the higher CH₄ flux leads to a higher microbial activity of AOM, and more
organic matter decomposition through methanogenesis. A higher methanogenesis rate
and a smaller CR contribution relative to AOM in the chimney sites is responsible for
the isotopically light DIC and heavy methane in this environment, relative to the
non-chimney sites.
Genre Article
Identifier Hong, W. L., Torres, M. E., Kim, J. H., Choi, J., & Bahk, J. J. (2014). Towards quantifying the reaction network around the sulfate-methane-transition-zone in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, with a kinetic modeling approach. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 140, 127-141. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2014.05.032

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