Biogeosciences

EGU2020 BG Sessions in the spotlight: Methane

Alexandra Rodler December 23, 2019

Oceanic ombrotrophic peatland at the Seno Skyring Fjord, Patagonia, Chile by Klaus-Holger Knorr

The EGU 2020 abstract submissions are open until January 15. Here, we’ll highlight the planned biogeosciences sessions. Stay tuned and find the session for your abstract! Today’s focus is on Methane. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is steadily increasing in concentration in the atmosphere, prompting fears that it could scupper our chances to meet the global climate targets. But given its relativ ...[Read More]

EGU2020 BG Sessions in the spotlight: Biogeosciences’ past achievements and current challenges

Alexandra Rodler December 19, 2019

Melt Ponds on Arctic Sea Ice by Kai Boggild

The EGU 2020 abstract submissions are open until January 15. Today we highlight two of the more general BG-sessions for those of you working with big questions linking biology and geology, current and past. First, BG1.13: Past achievement and future challenges of Biogeosciences. This session is convened by Giuliana Panieri, Ariel D. Anbar, Hiroshi Kitazato and Kurt Konhauser. The convenors ...[Read More]

Welcome back to EGU’s Biogeosciences Division Blog!

Alexandra Rodler December 17, 2019

Footprints by Carolina Reyes

After a brief hiatus, the blog will be restarting under the joint editorship of Hana Jurikova, Alexandra Rodler, and Joshua Dean. Hana is a is a postdoctoral researcher at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam in Germany. Her research primarily involves the application and development of novel isotopic techniques to gain insights into climatic and environ ...[Read More]

Welcome to EGU 2018!

Jasper Bloemen April 8, 2018

Dear all BG members, welcome to EGU 2018! Remember our annual BG Division meeting that will be held on Thursday, April 12, 12:15-13:15 in Room L2. Enclosed the Agenda. This year, the Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadsky Medal of our Division is awarded to Antje Boetius. All invited at the Medal Lecture on Tuesday, April 10, 14:00–15:00 in Room C See you all this evening for the ice breaker at the Opening ...[Read More]

abstract submission

Jasper Bloemen January 10, 2018

We are sorry to hear that people are experiencing difficulties submitting their last-minute #EGU18 abstracts & paying the APCs. If this is the case for you, you will be able to submit your abstract later today

Understanding the role of microbes in cold seep habitats

Jasper Bloemen October 27, 2017

Methane consumption by (i) anaerobic oxidation of methane, and (ii) aerobic methane oxidation. (Figure from James et al. 2016).

A cold seep is an area of the ocean seafloor where hydrogen sulfide, methane and other hydrocarbon-rich fluid seepage occurs. These parts of the ocean floor still remain a large mystery for scientists, in particular for the occurence of hydrothermal vents. In between these vents, microbes live that play a role in the local and global carbon budget. However their exact role remains largerly unknown ...[Read More]

Identification of past methane emission altering the foraminiferal tests by secondary overgrowth of calcium carbonate.

Jasper Bloemen September 29, 2017

Measurements on the benthic foraminifera called Cassidulina neoteretis were used to assess past methane emissions from the seafloor. credit: Hesemann, M., 2017, Foraminifera.eu Project).

Ever heard about foraminifera? These tiny benthic (living at the seafloor) marine organisms are common in oceans across the globe and can be used to accurately give relative dates to sedimentary rocks. But we can also use them to identify past methane emissions from the seabed by studing their test or shell! The measurements were done on foraminifera called Cassidulina neoteretis , which is a ty ...[Read More]

Investigation of methane emissions in marine systems

Jasper Bloemen September 17, 2017

Carbonate crust sampled by the ROV (credit: Maja Sojtaric - CAGE).

Ever wondered how we can measure methane emssions from the seafloor ? And ever wanted to steer a mini submarine remotely operating vehicle (ROV)? Well here´s your chance! Have look at this blog post on analyzing methane emissions using ROVs and you´re ready to embark! The goal is to determine when the gas leak started and how the fluid flow systems work. With our research, we can contribut ...[Read More]

Coffee break biogeosciences–high resolution δ18O record from bivalves

Rachael Moore December 9, 2016

Much like trees, clam shells have growth rings. The chemistry of these rings can be used as a proxy for ocean chemistry. Recently, an international team of scientists used the growth rings found in shells of Arctica islandica to produce an annual absolutely dated marine δ18O record for the last millennium which was published in Nature Communications. The record represents the first fine scale arch ...[Read More]

Coffee break biogeosciences–in situ sub-millimeter scale resolution imaging of benthic environments

Rachael Moore August 5, 2016

The BUM in action in Maui (Jaffe Lab for Underwater Imaging, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego)

Coral reefs and other benthic marine ecosystems play a very important role in the biogeochemical cycles of our oceans. However, laboratory based study of these environments ranges from being difficult to actually impossible. In order to look at the microscopic-scale processes that occur in the benthic environment a team of scientists developed the Benthic Underwater Microscope (BUM). The device, w ...[Read More]