Abstract. 

"The ocean is a net source of the greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting substance, nitrous oxide (N2O), to the atmosphere. Most of that N2O is produced as a trace side product during ammonia oxidation, primarily by ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), which numerically dominate the ammonia-oxidizing community in most marine environments. The pathways to N2O production and their kinetics, however, are not completely understood. Here, we use 15N and 18O isotopes to determine the kinetics of N2O production and trace the source of nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) atoms in N2O produced by a model marine AOA species, Nitrosopumilus maritimus. [...]".

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Authors: Xianhui S. Wan et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2220697120

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Abstract.

"Before the Quaternary, the Earth experienced a series of environmental perturbations. The causal links between large volcanic events, extreme climatic change, and ocean anoxia have been examined in the context of these perturbations. However, to date, the correlation between oceanic anoxia and large volcanic activity in the Pleistocene remains poorly constrained. Identifying the physical processes that can control changes to the marine osmium, uranium, and sulfur isotope ratios is critical to understanding how volcanic activity, climate changes, and ocean anoxia have coevolved throughout the Quaternary. [...]".

Source: Science Direct 
Authors: Wenlong Pei et al. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.111360

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Abstract.

"A Tremadocian (Early Ordovician, base Stairsian North American Stage) mass extinction event is recorded globally in rocks from several ancient continents and is accompanied by a globally correlated positive carbon isotope excursion (CIE; the largest during the Early Ordovician). In this study, elemental concentrations and uranium isotope compositions (δ238U) were measured for carbonate samples from three sections (along a proximal-to-distal transect: Ibex area, Shingle Pass, Meiklejohn Peak, respectively) in the Great Basin to test the role of ocean anoxia/euxinia on the base Stairsian mass extinction event. [...]".

Source: Science Direct 
Authors: Xinze Lu et al. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2022.11.028

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Abstract. 

"Early animals experienced multiple-phase radiations and extinctions from the late Ediacaran to early Cambrian. Oxygen likely played an important role in these evolutionary events, but detailed marine redox evolution during this period remains highly debated. The emerging vanadium (V) isotope system can better capture short-term perturbations to global ocean redox conditions. In this study, we analyzed V isotope compositions [...]".

Source: Science Direct 
Authors: Wei Wei et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117942

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Abstract. 

"Ocean acidification causes biocalcification stress. The calcium isotope composition of carbonate producers can archive such stress because calcium isotope fractionation is sensitive to precipitation rate. Here, we synthesize morphometric observations of planktic foraminifera with multi-archive calcium isotope records from Gubbio, Italy and the Western Interior Seaway spanning Cretaceous Ocean Anoxic Event 2 (~94 million years ago). Calcium isotope ratios increase ~60 thousand years prior to the event. [...]". 

Source: Nature
Authors: Gabriella D. Kitch et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00641-0

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Abstract. 

"The Carnian Humid Episode (CHE) represents a dramatic dry to wet climate transition in the Late Triassic. Manifestations of this climate shift and its associated biological and environmental responses are not fully understood. Here, we carried out carbonate carbon isotope, trace metal, and pyrite framboid analyses at Wolonggang in southwest China to trace palaeoenvironmental changes during this critical interval. The CHE at Wolonggang is marked by the development of fine laminated carbonaceous siltstones and black shales overlying the intensely bioturbated Zhuganpo limestone deposited in the latest Julian 1. [...]". 

Source: Science Direct 
Authors: Zaitian Zhang et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2022.103942

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Abstract. 

"The Late Devonian, during which one of the “Big Five” Phanerozoic mass extinction events occurred, was one of the most important time intervals in Earth history. Nevertheless, the paucity of deep-sea records due to subduction has hampered elucidation of the pelagic environment during the Late Devonian in Panthalassa. However, ancient hydrothermal ferromanganese sediments, which were deposited on the abyssal seafloor and then accreted onto continental margins, are preserved as umber deposits and exposed in accretionary prisms. These sediments can provide key information to characterize the paleo-ocean. [...]".

Source: Science Direct 
Authors: Yusuke Kuwahara et al. 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2022.103920

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Abstract. 

"The redox chemistry change in ancient oceans has profoundly shaped the evolutionary trajectories of animals. Uranium isotopes (U) in marine carbonate sediments have widely been used to place quantitative constraints on the oxygenation state of the oceans through geological history. However, syndepositional and post-depositional diagenesis impose a positive and variable U offset in the carbonate sediments relative to contemporaneous seawater, leaving uncertainties on quantification of anoxic seafloor areas in the past. Studies from modern settings suggest that Low-Magnesium Calcite (LMC) in articulate brachiopod shells are diagenetic resistant materials that may faithfully record the U value of ancient seawater. [...]".

Source: Science Direct 
Authors: Wen-qian Wang et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117714

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Abstract. 

"We report the first high-resolution sedimentological and geochemical record of the negative carbon-isotope excursion (CIE) at the onset of the early Aptian oceanic anoxic event (OAE) 1a from a carbonate-ramp depositional environment, analysed from a well core from c. 2500 m depth, 100 km offshore Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Time-series analysis of stable oxygen isotope values and concentrations of Si, Al, and Ti resulted in durations of the C3 and C4 segments of the CIE that support relative completeness of the C3 segment and high sediment preservation rates of c. 13 cm/kyr of the studied sedimentary sequence. [...]".

Source: Science Direct 
Authors: Thomas Steuber et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.111086

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Abstract.

"Chromium is a redox sensitive element that exhibits a large range of isotopic compositions in Earth’s surface environments because of Cr(VI)-Cr(III) transformations. This property of Cr has been exploited as a tracer of Earth’s oxygenation history using marine sediments. However, paleoredox applications using Cr are difficult to implement due to its complicated cycling, which creates spatial variability in seawater δ53Cr values. Applications are further hindered by the potential for variability in the major inputs of Cr, such as submarine volcanism, to mask redox processes. [...]". 

Source: Science Direct 
Authors: Lucien Nana Yobo et al.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2022.06.016

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