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High heat flow and ocean acidification at a nascent rift in the northern Gulf of California

Author

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  • Rosa Ma Prol-Ledesma

    (Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Cd. Universitaria)

  • Marco-Antonio Torres-Vera

    (Asociación para Evitar la Ceguera en México, Vicente García Torres 46)

  • Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa

    (Marine Institute, Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, University of Plymouth)

  • Catalina Ángeles

    (Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

  • Carlos H. Lechuga Deveze

    (Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Mar Bermejo 195, Colonia Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23090 La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico)

  • Ruth Esther Villanueva-Estrada

    (Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Cd. Universitaria)

  • Evgueni Shumilin

    (Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. IPN s/n Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23090 La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico)

  • Carlos Robinson

    (Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México)

Abstract

The prevailing tectonic setting in the Gulf California suggests the presence of an undetermined number of short spreading centres with associated hydrothermal systems. However, to date, active seafloor spreading phenomena have been documented in only three of the eight tectonically active basins. Here we report heat flow values as high as 15,436 mW m−2 in two of the northernmost basins of the Gulf of California, providing evidence of intense hydrothermal activity associated with the transition from continental rifting to seafloor spreading. The mean heat flow for the Wagner and Consag basins area is 1,875 mW m−2, more than 15 times higher than the mean value for oceanic crust (105.4 mW m−2). Additional evidence for vigorous hydrothermal circulation and a shallow heat source includes intense gas discharge (CO2 and CH4), widespread low pH (average 7.7), locally high 222Rn concentrations in the bottom water and a high extent of organic matter maturation in the sediments.

Suggested Citation

  • Rosa Ma Prol-Ledesma & Marco-Antonio Torres-Vera & Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa & Catalina Ángeles & Carlos H. Lechuga Deveze & Ruth Esther Villanueva-Estrada & Evgueni Shumilin & Carlos Robinson, 2013. "High heat flow and ocean acidification at a nascent rift in the northern Gulf of California," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:4:y:2013:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2390
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2390
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    Cited by:

    1. Espinoza-Ojeda, O.M. & Prol-Ledesma, R.M. & Iglesias, E.R. & Figueroa-Soto, A., 2017. "Update and review of heat flow measurements in México," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 466-479.

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