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Stanevich_Thesis_0712.pdf (1.09 MB)

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Understanding biogeochemical linkages across a Cretaceous terrestrial-marine interface.

Stanevich, Leah Kay
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1720733935060421

Abstract Details

2024, MS, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Earth Sciences.
Understanding how paleoenvironments and biogeochemical cycles operate in response to local sea-level fluctuations at a time when climatic conditions were warmer, and CO2 was higher than today can help contextualize how the Earth will respond to future warming and sea-level rise. The Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation of Utah is an ideal study site to investigate the relationship between sea-level, carbon, and nutrient cycling, as it provides an opportunity to observe the transport and delivery of organic matter (OM) and nutrients across a terrestrial-marine margin. Samples were collected from two cores that span the paleoshoreline of the Western Interior Seaway (WIS) and record locations that oscillate between terrestrial (floodplain, fluvial, peat mires), and transitional (estuarine), and marine (near-shore and offshore) depositional environments. Most of these sediments contain high levels of organic carbon, and as local sea level fluctuated, the two cores experienced variable amounts of marine influence during deposition. Marine influence was greater in the older Calico Sequence as indicated by higher sulfur content. The presence of sulfur during the Calico Sequence led to enhanced pyrite formation and enabled phosphorus to be lost from the system, presumably to the open seaway. During the younger A Sequence, a lack of sulfur and abundant reactive iron in the sediments meant that these marginal environments became effective traps for phosphorus during the younger A Sequence, retaining this critical nutrient in marginal terrestrial environments. These indicate how change in the relative abundance of sulfur in reactive iron rich coastal environments can cause a cascading effect of phosphorus cycling and delivery into the open ocean.
Timothy Gallagher (Advisor)
David Singer (Committee Member)
Allyson Tessin (Committee Member)
41 p.
Environmental Geology; Geochemistry; Geology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stanevich, L. K. (2024). Understanding biogeochemical linkages across a Cretaceous terrestrial-marine interface. [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1720733935060421

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stanevich, Leah. Understanding biogeochemical linkages across a Cretaceous terrestrial-marine interface. 2024. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1720733935060421.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stanevich, Leah. "Understanding biogeochemical linkages across a Cretaceous terrestrial-marine interface." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1720733935060421

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1720733935060421
54
© 2024, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.