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Impact of mangrove ecosystems on carbonate sediment: integration of carbonate chemistry and petrography.

Project

Project Details

Program
All Programs
Field of Study
Carbonate ; Sedimentology; Chemistry
Division
All Divisions
Faculty Lab Link
https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/study/faculty/volker-vahrenkamp

Project Description

Sedimentologists have long observed that mangroves have the ability to retain sediment and increase sedimentation rate in comparison to vegetation-free intertidal zones like mudflat and tidal creeks. Recently, in the context of climate change and ocean acidification, mangrove areas have become of interest to researchers as they can act as a sink for carbon/carbonate (blue carbon). However, there are few multidisciplinary studies that directly correlate the quantitative carbonate budget in mangroves to the nature of carbonate sediments, early diagenetic features and microbial erosion. This project aims to fill this gap by investigating both the changes of pore water carbonate chemistry between mangrove and tidal creeks (Red Sea coast; KSA) as well as sedimentological and diagenetic changes in sediments (petrography). The focus will be on both the meter (i.e., forest, marsh, mudflat) and centimeter (i.e., sedimentary structures) scales. For this project, we are looking for a motivated student/recent graduate, with a strong background in carbonate sedimentology, carbonate chemistry, fieldwork (in-situ analysis pH, pore water sampling…), and laboratory work (ICP-MS).

About the Researcher

Volker Vahrenkamp
Professor, Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering
Physical Science and Engineering Division

Affiliations

Education Profile

  • Ph.D. Marine Geology, RSMAS a- U. Miami, Miami, FL, USA
  • MSc Geology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
  • Vordiplom, Ludwigs UniversitA¤t, Freiburg, Germany

Research Interests

a€‹Professor Vahrenkamp's research aims at securing future energy supply with three main thrusts: Refine the understanding of modern and ancient carbonate depositional environments and associated diagenesis for improved perception of reservoir heterogeneities on multiple scales, Advance the quantification of the complex pore networks of Arabian carbonate reservoirs and its impact on reservoir performance, Explore and develop geothermal energy in Arabian countries with special focus on desalination and cooling applications and suitable drilling techniques.

Selected Publications

  • Late Jurassic to Cretaceous source rock prone intra-shelf basins of the eastern Arabian plate a- interplay between t... Vahrenkamp, V.C., P. Van Laer, B.J. Franco, M. A. Celentano, Carine Grelaud and P. Razin. SPE-IPTC-18470 , (2015)
  • Micro rhombic calcite of a giant Barremian reservoir onshore Abu Dhabi - Clumped isotope analyses fix temperature, ... Vahrenkamp, V.C, J. Barata; P.J. Van Laer, P. Swart, S. Murray. SPE ADIPEC-172033 , (2014)
  • Carbon-isotope signatures of Albian to Cenomanian (Cretaceous) shelf carbonates of the Natih Formation, Sultanate o... Vahrenkamp, V.C. GeoArabia, v. 18, no. 3, 65-82, (2013)
  • Validation of fundamental carbonate reservoir core properties using Digital Rock Physics Lopez, O., A. Mock, P. A˜ren, H. Long, Z. Kalam, V. Vahrenkamp, M. Gibrata, S. Seraj, S. Ch. International Symposium of the Society of Core Analysts, SCA2012-19, 12 pages , (2012)
  • Chemo stratigraphy of the Early Cretaceous Shu'aiba Formation. Vahrenkamp, V.C. GeoArabia Special Publication 4, V. 1, 107 137, (2010)

Desired Project Deliverables

Sediment (thin section, sieving) and pore water analysis (pH, TA, DIC, OM...). Heterogeneities maps and petrographic images.

Recommended Student Background

Carbonate sedimentology
Field and lab work
Diagenesis
Chemistry, in-situ environmental measurements
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