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Aroskay A, Martin E, Bekki S, Le Pennec JL, Savarino J, Temel A, Manrique N, Aguilar R, Rivera M, Guillou H, Balcone-Boissard H, Phelip O, Szopa S. Geological evidence of extensive N-fixation by volcanic lightning during very large explosive eruptions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2309131121. [PMID: 38315852 PMCID: PMC10873604 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309131121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Most of the nitrogen (N) accessible for life is trapped in dinitrogen (N2), the most stable atmospheric molecule. In order to be metabolized by living organisms, N2 has to be converted into biologically assimilable forms, so-called fixed N. Nowadays, nearly all the N-fixation is achieved through biological and anthropogenic processes. However, in early prebiotic environments of the Earth, N-fixation must have occurred via natural abiotic processes. One of the most invoked processes is electrical discharges, including from thunderstorms and lightning associated with volcanic eruptions. Despite the frequent occurrence of volcanic lightning during explosive eruptions and convincing laboratory experimentation, no evidence of substantial N-fixation has been found in any geological archive. Here, we report on the discovery of a significant amount of nitrate in volcanic deposits from Neogene caldera-forming eruptions, which are well correlated with the concentrations of species directly emitted by volcanoes (sulfur, chlorine). The multi-isotopic composition (δ18O, Δ17O) of the nitrates reveals that they originate from the atmospheric oxidation of nitrogen oxides formed by volcanic lightning. According to these first geological volcanic nitrate archive, we estimate that, on average, about 60 Tg of N can be fixed during a large explosive event. Our findings hint at a unique role potentially played by subaerial explosive eruptions in supplying essential ingredients for the emergence of life on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Aroskay
- Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris (ISTeP - UMR7193), Sorbonne Université, Paris75005, France
| | - Erwan Martin
- Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris (ISTeP - UMR7193), Sorbonne Université, Paris75005, France
| | - Slimane Bekki
- Laboratoire Atmosphère, Obsevation spaticale (LATMOS - UMR 8190), Sorbonne Uiversité, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Paris75005, France
| | - Jean-Luc Le Pennec
- Geo-Ocean, University of Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6538, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Plouzané29280, France
| | - Joël Savarino
- Institut des Géiosciences et de l’Environnement (IGE - UMR 5001), Université de Grenoble, Saint Martin d’Hères38400, France
| | - Abidin Temel
- Department of Geological Engineering, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Beytepe06800, Turkey
| | - Nelida Manrique
- Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico, Arequipa, Yanahuara04013, Peru
| | - Rigoberto Aguilar
- Instituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico, Arequipa, Yanahuara04013, Peru
| | - Marco Rivera
- Instituto Geofísico del Perú Observatorio Vulcanológico del Sur, Arequipa, Sachaca04013, Peru
| | - Hervé Guillou
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE - UMR8212), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette91491, France
| | - Hélène Balcone-Boissard
- Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris (ISTeP - UMR7193), Sorbonne Université, Paris75005, France
| | - Océane Phelip
- Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris (ISTeP - UMR7193), Sorbonne Université, Paris75005, France
| | - Sophie Szopa
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE - UMR8212), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette91491, France
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Zhu Y, Toon OB, Jensen EJ, Bardeen CG, Mills MJ, Tolbert MA, Yu P, Woods S. Persisting volcanic ash particles impact stratospheric SO 2 lifetime and aerosol optical properties. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4526. [PMID: 32913208 PMCID: PMC7483524 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18352-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Volcanic ash is often neglected in climate simulations because ash particles are assumed to have a short atmospheric lifetime, and to not participate in sulfur chemistry. After the Mt. Kelut eruption in 2014, stratospheric ash-rich aerosols were observed for months. Here we show that the persistence of super-micron ash is consistent with a density near 0.5 g cm−3, close to pumice. Ash-rich particles dominate the volcanic cloud optical properties for the first 60 days. We also find that the initial SO2 lifetime is determined by SO2 uptake on ash, rather than by reaction with OH as commonly assumed. About 43% more volcanic sulfur is removed from the stratosphere in 2 months with the SO2 heterogeneous chemistry on ash particles than without. This research suggests the need for re-evaluation of factors controlling SO2 lifetime in climate model simulations, and of the impact of volcanic ash on stratospheric chemistry and radiation. Volcanic ash is often neglected in climate simulations as it is assumed to have a short atmospheric lifetime. Here, the authors show a persistent super-micron ash layer after the Mt. Kelut eruption in 2014 that impacts the stratospheric sulfur burden and chemistry for over the first months after the eruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqian Zhu
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA.
| | - Owen B Toon
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80303, USA.,Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80302, USA
| | - Eric J Jensen
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA
| | - Charles G Bardeen
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA
| | - Michael J Mills
- Atmospheric Chemistry Observations and Modeling Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, 80301, USA
| | - Margaret A Tolbert
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Pengfei Yu
- Earth System Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA.,Institute for Environmental and Climate Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sarah Woods
- Stratton Park Engineering Company, Inc, Bo ulder, CO, 80301, USA
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Sulfur isotope analysis for representative regional background atmospheric aerosols collected at Mt. Lulin, Taiwan. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19707. [PMID: 31873111 PMCID: PMC6928072 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56048-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution resulted from fossil fuel burning has been an environmental issue in developing countries in Asia. Sulfur-bearing compounds, in particular, are species that are regulated and monitored routinely. To assess how the species affect at local and global scales, regional background level has to be defined. Here, we report analysis of sulfur isotopes in atmospheric sulfate, the oxidation end product of sulfur species, in particulate phase collected at the Lulin observatory located at 2862 m above mean sea level in 2010. The averaged sulfate concentration for 44 selected samples is 2.7 ± 2.3 (1-σ standard deviation) μg m−3, and the averaged δ34S is 2.2 ± 1.6‰, with respect to the international standard Vienna Canyon Diablo Troilite. Regardless of the origins of air masses, no noticeable difference between the low-altitude Pacific and high-altitude free troposphere sulfate aerosols is observed. Also, no identifiable seasonal cycle in seen. Correlation analysis with respect to coal burning tracers such as lead and oil industry tracers such as vanadium shows sulfate concentration is in better correlation with vanadium (R2 = 0.86, p-value < 0.001) than with lead (R2 = 0.45, p-value < 0.001) but no statistically significant correlation is found in δ34S with any of physical quantities measured. We suggest the sulfate collected at Lulin can best represent the regional background level in the Western Pacific, a quantity that is needed in order to quantitatively assess the budget of sulfur in local to country scales.
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