Magma migration and differentiation processes are key to understanding the development and evolution of oceanic magma reservoirs. To provide new quantitative geochemical constraints on these processes, we applied a high‐resolution approach to study an interlayered section of the lower oceanic crust sampled at Atlantis Bank, on the (ultra)slow‐spreading Southwest Indian Ridge. The section is characterized by sharp grain‐size layering between fine‐ and coarse‐grained olivine gabbros that is representative of other layered structures described at the Atlantis Bank oceanic core complex. The textures and fabrics of the layers and the nature of their contacts indicate formation by intrusion of a magma (i.e., crystal‐bearing) into an almost solidified coarse‐grained mush. Petrographic observations and in situ incompatible trace element signatures indicate that the fine‐ and coarse‐grained layers record reactive porous migration of melts. Widespread reactive porous flow occurred prior to intrusion within the coarse‐grained gabbro, producing mineral compositions enriched in incompatible elements. The intrusive fine‐grained lithology records a late stage event of localized reactive melt percolation in cm‐scale structures, which lead to strong light rare earth elements depletion relative to heavy rare earth elements. In addition, we highlight the occurrence of interactions at the contacts between layers and partial modification in compositions of the intruded lithology. This layered section likely represents a contact between two larger magma bodies emplaced within the lower crust during accretion, where the type of melt migration (intrusion or porous flow) and the modalities of melt percolation (widespread or localized) strongly govern the composition of the crustal lithologies.

Forest fires can change the greenhouse gase (GHG) flux of borea forest soils. We measured carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes with different burn histories in black spruce (Picea mariana) stands in interior Alaska. The control forest (CF) burned in 1920; partially burned (PB) in 1999; and severely burned (SB1 and SB2) in 2004. The thickness of the organic layer was 22 ± 6 cm at CF, 28 ± 10 cm at PB, 12 ± 6 cm at SB1 and 4 ± 2 cm at SB2. The mean soil temperature during CO₂ flux measurement was 8.9 ± 3.1, 6.4 ± 2.1, 5.9 ± 3.4 and 5.0 ± 2.4°C at SB2, SB1, PB and CF, respectively, and differed significantly among the sites (P < 0.01). The mean CO₂ flux was highest at PB (128 ± 85 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹) and lowest at SB1 (47 ± 19 mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹) (P < 0.01), and within each site it was positively correlated with soil temperature (P < 0.01). The CO₂ flux at SB2 was lower than that at CF when the soil temperature was high. We attributed the low CO₂ flux at SB1 and SB2 to low root respiration and organic matter decomposition rates due to the 2004 fire. The CH₄ uptake rate was highest at SB1 [–91 ± 21 μg CH₄-C m⁻² h⁻¹] (P < 0.01) and positively correlated with soil temperature (P < 0.01) but not soil moisture. The CH₄ uptake rate increased with increasing soil temperature because methanotroph activity increased. The N₂O flux was highest [3.6 ± 4.7 μg N₂O-N m⁻² h⁻¹] at PB (P < 0.01). Our findings suggest that the soil temperature and moisture are important factors of GHG dynamics in forest soils with different fire history.

It has been well documented by short-term artificial experiments that the CH⁴ uptake is inhibited by N input, especially NH^{4 p+}-N input. To investigate the effect of the natural N input by throughfall and other factors on the CH⁴ uptake in forest soils, we measured the CH⁴ uptake rates for 6 months during the snow-free period of the year and N input by throughfall throughout the year at 10 sites in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1997 to 2002. Water filled pore space (WFPS) and pH values in the soils varied widely among the sites (38-93% and 3.9-6.2, respectively). The rates of NH^{4 p+}-N and NH^{3 p-}-N inputs ranged from 1.3 to 6.9 kg N ha^p-1 year^p-1 and from 0.8 to 2.9 kg N ha^p-1 year^p-1, respectively. The NH^{4 p+}-N input was generally higher than the NH^{3 p-}-N input. Total N input by throughfall amounted to 2.3-9.4 kg N ha^p-1 year^p-1. The highest CH⁴ uptake rate occurred within the period from July to September (41-215 μg CH⁴ m^p-2 h^p-1) each year at most sites. CH⁴ uptake rate was relatively low (~50 μg CH⁴ M-2 h^p-1) at northern sites, while a high CH⁴ uptake rate was observed throughout the year 100 (≽ CH⁴ m^p-2 h^p-1) at southern sites. The mean CH⁴ uptake rates were significantly different among the sites. Cumulative CH⁴ uptake ranged from 1.4 to 6.6 kg CH⁴ ha^p-1 [184 d]^p-1 with a mean values of 3.22 ± 1.36 kg CH⁴ ha^p-1 [184 d]^p-1. Cumulative CH⁴ uptake increased with increasing temperature and decreased with an increase in precipitation (Rain), NH^{4 p+}-N input (TF^NH4) WFPS, soil total C (TC), and total N (TN). There was a quadratic relationship between the CH⁴ uptake and NH^{3 p-}-N input (TF^NO3), soil pH, and C / N ratio in soil. A regression equation was obtained as follows to predict the CH⁴ uptake in forest soils: Cumulative CH⁴ uptake = 0.47 / Rain + 0.38 / TF^NH4 + 0.34 / TC - 0.30 / TF^N03 (R ^p2 = 0.74, p = 0.0001). This equation indicates that atmospheric N input into forest soils is one of the main factors that control cumulative CH⁴ uptake with precipitation, total carbon content in soil in Hokkaido, Japan.

Since biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are important precursors of ozone, the monitoring of the BVOC concentration distributions is needed. In general, forest BVOC concentrations increase in summer as well as in other seasons. This study aims to detect temporally sporadic increases in BVOC concentrations in the non-summer months and to analyze the occurring climatic conditions. Using a uniform sampling system and shared gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, the concentrations of isoprene and monoterpenes in six Japanese forests were observed approximately once a month for 3 years. Using the observed data, the relations between the BVOC concentration increases and meteorological factors were evaluated. Twenty instances of temporal increases in BVOC concentrations were observed. These mainly occurred in spring for isoprene and in autumn for monoterpenes. Most of the increases in the non-summer months were observed after a rainfall event, when the daily temperature range was large, suggesting that wind, rain, and a rapid diurnal temperature rise could be factors in the non-summer months. Thus, the network monitoring of BVOC concentrations might be effective for understanding the effects of factors other than temperature, and the mechanisms and frequency of the temporal increases, on the BVOC concentrations in various forests.

The extent of partial melting of peridotites is a function of temperature, pressure, and fluid supply. Understanding the petrogenesis of ultra‐depleted peridotites is important for elucidating mantle potential temperature and the role of water in the mantle. We analyzed the major and trace element compositions of ultra‐depleted peridotites from the Kamuikotan zone, Japan. Geochemical models were then generated to constrain the melting conditions and their relation to boninitic melts. The peridotites are characterized by minerals with high Mg/Fe and Cr/Al ratios, and olivine and orthopyroxene with low Ti and Y contents. The mineral compositions suggest that these peridotites are among the most depleted peridotites on Earth. Orthopyroxene compositions characterized by Zr and Sr enrichments relative to Ti and Y depletion cannot be solely explained by melt extraction from typical mantle compositions. Modeling of influx melting reproduces orthopyroxene trace element compositions of ultra‐depleted harzburgites formed after high degrees (>30%) of slab‐fluid influx melting at a low influx rate and melt fraction. The instantaneous fractional melts equilibrated with residues produced by the melting model and the melts, which equilibrated with amphiboles have similar trace elements patterns as boninites. However, the instantaneous fractional melts have low trace element abundances indicating that ultra‐depleted harzburgites are residues after extraction of refractory melts. Boninites are probably accumulated melts formed during the melting processes, or fractionated melt from the instantaneous fractional melts. High temperatures (>1350°C) and continuous fluid supply are key to the formation of ultra‐depleted peridotites and boninites during subduction initiation.