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Research about Norton Sound

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Norton Sound.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2013

Species and life-history affects the utility of otolith chemical composition to determine natal stream-of-origin in Pacific salmon

To test the utility of otolith chemical composition as a tool for determining the natal stream of origin for salmon, we examined water chemistry and otoliths of juvenile and adult Chum Salmon Oncorhynchus keta and Coho Salmon O. kisutch from three watersheds (five rivers) in the Norton Sound region of Alaska. The two species are characterized by different life histories: Coho Salmon rear in freshwater for up to 3 years, whereas Chum Salmon emigrate from freshwater shortly after emergence. We used laser ablation (LA) inductively coupled plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry (MS) to quantify element: Ca ratios for Mg, Mn, Zn, Sr, and Ba, and we used multicollector LA-ICP-MS to determine 87 Sr: 86 Sr ratios in otolith regions corresponding to the period of freshwater residence. Significant differences existed in both water and otolith elemental composition, suggesting that otolith composition could be used to discriminate the natal origin of Coho Salmon and Chum Salmon but only when 87 Sr: 86 Sr ratios were included in the discriminant function analyses. The best discriminant model included 87 Sr: 86 Sr ratios, and without 87 Sr: 86 Sr ratios it was difficult to discriminate among watersheds and rivers. Classification accuracy was 80% for Coho Salmon and 68% for Chum Salmon, indicating that this method does not provide sufficient sensitivity to estimate straying rates of Pacific salmon at the scale we studied.

Alaska↗
USGS2013

Thermogenic gases in near-surface sediments of Norton Sound, Alaska

A plume of hydrocarbon gases, assumed to be of thermogenic origin based on chemical compositions, has been noted by others in the water column of Norton Sound about 40 km south of Nome, Alaska. We used detailed geophysical transects, side-scan sonar, underwater television, and chromatographic analyses of gases in near-surface sediments to define a probable source area of hydrocarbon gases at the southern apex of the water plume epicenter. Geophysical, geotechnical, and geochemical evidence together indicate that hydrocarbon gases of subsurface, thermogenic origin apparently migrate into the near surface sediments along a fault zone. Subbottom reflector terminations on continuous seismic profiles outline a large zone of anomalous acoustic responses about 9 km in diameter and at 100-m depth that may be caused by a subsurface accumulation of gas. Gas migration from the accumulation to the surface sediment is indicated by smaller zones of reflector terminations observed in high-resolution profiles and by seafloor craters seen on underwater television at one station. The presence of gas-charged surface sediment also is suggested by low percent pore water saturation, greater penetration of the penetrometer, and more rapid penetration of the vibracorer in sediment at the station with near-surface acoustic anomalies and seafloor craters. Analyses of hydrocarbon gases in sediments from a 1.6-m vibracore taken at this station showed unusually high concentrations of hydrocarbon gases heavier than methane; the ethane, propane, n-butane, and isobutane were 76, 4, 6, and 52 times greater than in other near-surface sediments in this region, and also significant quantities of gasoline-range hydrocarbons were present. The gas composition and presence in near-surface sediments above a thick underlying section with acoustic anomalies points to the possibility of petroleum at depth in this region. Our work indicates that surface and near-surface studies of the continental shelf may contribute significantly to petroleum-resource evaluations in addition to defining areas of potential hazard from gas-charged sediment.

Alaska↗
USGS2008

Pollen evidence for late pleistocene bering land bridge environments from Norton Sound, Northeastern Bering Sea, Alaska

After more than half a century of paleoenvironmental investigations, disagreements persist as to the nature of vegetation type and climate of the Bering land bridge (BLB) during the late Wisconsin (Sartan) glacial interval. Few data exist from sites on the former land bridge, now submerged under the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Two hypotheses have emerged during the past decade. The first, based on pollen data from Bering Sea islands and adjacent mainlands of western Alaska and Northeast Siberia, represents the likely predominant vegetation on the Bering land bridge during full-glacial conditions: graminoid-herb-willow tundra vegetation associated with cold, dry winters and cool, dry summer climate. The second hypothesis suggests that dwarf birch-shrub-herb tundra formed a broad belt across the BLB, and that mesic vegetation was associated with cold, snowier winters and moist, cool summers. As a step towards resolving this controversy, a sediment core from Norton Sound, northeastern Bering Sea was radiocarbon dated and analyzed for pollen content. Two pollen zones were identified. The older, bracketed by radiocarbon ages of 29,500 and 11,515 14 C yr BP, contains pollen assemblages composed of grass, sedge, wormwood, willow, and a variety of herb (forb) taxa. These assemblages are interpreted to represent graminoid-herb-willow tundra vegetation that developed under an arid, cool climate regime. The younger pollen zone sediments were deposited about 11,515 14 C yr BP, when rising sea level had begun to flood the BLB. This younger pollen zone contains pollen of birch, willow, heaths, aquatic plants, and spores of sphagnum moss. This is interpreted to represent a Lateglacial dwarf birch-heath-willow-herb tundra vegetation, likely associated with a wetter climate with deeper winter snows, and moist, cool summers. This record supports the first hypothesis, that graminoid-herb-willow tundra vegetation extended into the lowlands of the BLB during full glacial conditions of the late Wisconsin.

Alaska↗
USGS1980

Sediment transport in Norton Sound, Alaska

The Yukon River, the largest single source of Bering Sea sediment, delivers > 95% of its sediment load at the southwest comer of Norton Sound during the ice-free months of late May through October. During this period, surface winds in the northern Bering Sea area are generally light from the south and southwest, and surface waves are not significant. Although wind stress may cause some transport of low-density turbid surface water into the head of Norton Sound, the most significant transport of Yukon River suspended matter occurs within advective currents flowing north across the outer part of the sound. The thickest accumulations of modern Yukon silt and very fine sand occur beneath this persistent current. We monitored temporal variations in bottom currents, pressure, and suspended-matter concentrations within this major transport pathway for 80 days in the summer of 1977 using a Geological Processes Bottom Environmental (GEOPROBE) tripod system. The record reveals two distinctive periods of bottom flow and sediment transport: an initial 59 days (July 8–September 5) of fair-weather conditions, characterized by tidally dominated currents and relatively low, stable suspended-matter concentrations; and a 21-day period (September 5–September 26) during which several storms traversed the northern Bering Sea, mean suspended-matter concentrations near the bottom increased by a factor of five, and the earlier tidal dominance was overshadowed by wind-driven and oscillatory wave-generated currents. Friction velocities (u * ) at the GEOPROBE site were generally subcritical during the initial fair-weather period. In contrast, the 21-day stormy period was characterized by uFriction velocities (u * ) at the GEOPROBE site were generally subcritical during the initial fair-weather period. In contrast, the 21-day stormy period was characterized by u * values that exceeded the critical level of 1.3 cm/s more than 60% of the time. The GEOPROBE data suggest that the very fine sand constituting about 50% of the sediment on the outer part of the Yukon prodelta is transported during a few late-summer and fall storms each year. A conservative estimate shows that suspended-matter transport during the storms in September 1977 was equal to four months of fair-weather transport. values that exceeded the critical level of 1.3 cm/s more than 60% of the time. The GEOPROBE data suggest that the very fine sand constituting about 50% of the sediment on the outer part of the Yukon prodelta is transported during a few late-summer and fall storms each year. A conservative estimate shows that suspended-matter transport during the storms in September 1977 was equal to four months of fair-weather transport.

Alaska↗
USGS1979

Biogenic and thermogenic gas in gas-charged sediment of Norton Sound, Alaska

Chemical and isotopic compositions of sediment gas from Norton Sound have been determined for near-surface, gas-charged sediments at two sites identified in acoustic profiles and bottom observations. At one site air-driven vibracorer penetrated sediment saturated with methane. The isotopic value suggests that the methane originated from active biological processes operating on peat in the top 4 m of sediment. At the other site, characterized by a large subsurface acoustic anomaly , smaller near-surface acoustic anomalies and active seepage of gas, the vibracorer obtained sediment saturated with gas composed of 98% CO2. Associated with the CO2 are minor concentrations of petroleum-like light hydrocarbons. The carbon isotopic compositions of CO2 and methane along with the chemical distribution of gaseous hydrocarbons indicate that at this site these gases are derived from thermal processes operating at depth in Norton Basin. Apparently CO2 from the decarbonation of marine limestone acts as a carrier for hydrocarbon gases that have been generated from organic matter buried in the basin. The gases reach the surface by faults and escape at the seafloor as a submarine seep. The presence of near-surface gas-charged sediment in Norton Sound reduces the stability of the seafloor. Areas where sediments are charged with gas may pose potential hazards for engineering developments.

Alaska↗
USGS1979

Submarine seep of carbon dioxide in Norton Sound, Alaska

Earlier workers have described a submarine gas seep in Norton Sound having an unusual mixture of petroleum-like, low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons. Actually, only about 0.04 percent of the seeping gas is hydrocarbons and 98 percent is carbon dioxide. The isotopic compositions of carbon dioxide (δ 13 C PDB = –2.7 per mil) and methane (δ 13 C PDB = –36 per mil) where PDB is the Peedee belemnite standard) indicate that geothermal processes are active here.

Alaska↗
USGS1977

Submarine seepage of natural gas in Norton Sound, Alaska

Unusual concentrations of dissolved two- to four-carbon alkanes were observed in the waters in Norton Sound in a localized area approximately 40 kilometers south of Nome, Alaska, in 1976. The hydrocarbons were identified in the near-bottom waters downcurrent for more than 100 kilometers from a sea-floor point source. Preliminary dynamic modeling estimates of the initial gas phase composition predict methane/ethane and ethane/propane ratios of 24 and 1.7, respectively, assuming the hydrocarbons were introduced by bubbles. The low ethane/propane ratio is indicative of gas from a liquid petroleum source rather than from nonassociated or biogenic natural gas. Preliminary data on the structural geology of Norton Basin lend support to the interpretation based on the hydrocarbon plume. Unconformably truncated strata dip basinward from the seep locus; acoustic anomalies and numerous steeply dipping faults in the immediate vicinity of the seep are corroborating evidence that shallow gas- or petroleum-charged sediments and strata coincide with avenues for migration of mobile hydrocarbons to the sea floor. These factors, taken in concert with the sedimentological regime, the recent revision (increase) of basin depth estimates, and the highly localized hydrocarbon source, strongly suggest a thermogenic rather than a recent biogenic origin for these gaseous compounds.

Alaska↗