Professor Emerita
marta.torres@oregonstate.edu

Office: 541-737-2902

Weniger Hall

Weniger Hall 543

103 SW Memorial Place

103 SW Memorial Place
Corvallis, OR 97331

Profile Field Tabs

At OSU
Brief Research Interests: 

Cold seepage, gas hydrate dynamics, geochemical tracers for fluid flow, transport mechanisms, analytical geochemistry of sediments, role of microbial communities in early diagenetic processes

Location: 
Building: 

Research Interests

Cold seepage at convergent and transform margins; gas hydrate dynamics; geochemical tracers for fluid flow, transport mechanisms and fluid provenance; analytical geochemistry of sediments and pore fluids; role of microbial communities in early diagenetic processes.

Current Research

Exploration of cold seepage at convergent and transform margins; gas hydrate dynamics; role of fluid flow and associated fluid/rock reactions on fault zone stability and seismogenesis; the transfer of elements and isotopes to the oceans, volcanic arc, and mantle; and the composition and biogeochemical impact of the deep biosphere.

Education

BS, Universidad de Costa Rica (Chemistry), 1976
MS, Oregon State University (Chemical Oceanography), 1983
PhD, Oregon State University (Marine Geochemistry), 1988

Publications

1. von Breymann, M. T., M. A. de Angelis and  L. I. Gordon, 1982. Gas chromatography with electron capture detection for determination of hydroxylamine in seawater. Anal. Chem. 54: 1209-1210.

2. von Breymann, M. T., C. A. Ungerer and E. Suess, 1988. Ammonium exchange equilibria on humic acid: A radiotracer technique for conditional exchange constants in a seawater matrix. Chem. Geol. 70: 349-357.

3.  von Breymann, M. T. and E. Suess, 1988. Magnesium ammonium exchange in marine sediments. Chem. Geol. 70: 359-371.

4. von Breymann, M. T., K. C. Emeis and A. Camerlenghi, 1989. Geochemistry of sediments from the Peru upwelling area: Results from ODP Sites 680, 682, 685 and 688. In: Suess, E., von Huene, R. et al. (eds.) Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 112: College Station, TX.

5. von Breymann, M. T., R. Collier and E. Suess, 1990. Magnesium adsorption and ion exchange in marine sediments: A multi-component model. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 54: 3295-3313.

6. von Breymann, M. T., P. K. Swart, G. W. Brass and U. Berner, 1991. Pore water chemistry of the Sulu and Celebes Seas: Extensive diagenetic reactions at Sites 767 and 768. In: Silver, E. A., Rangin, C., von Breymann, M. T. (eds.) Proc. ODP. Sci. Results, 124: College Station, TX, 203-215.

7. von Breymann, M. T. and U. Berner, 1991. Isotopic characterization of secondary carbonates from Sulu and Celebes Sea basalts: Contrasting scenarios of basalt-seawater interaction.  In: Silver, E. A., Rangin, C., von Breymann, M. T. (eds.) Proc. ODP. Sci. Results, 124: College Station, TX, 233-237.

8. Linsley, B. K. and M. T. von Breymann, 1991. Stable isotopic and geochemical record in the Sulu Sea during the last 750 k.y.: assesment of surface water variability and paleoproductivity changes. In: Silver, E. A., Rangin, C., von Breymann, M. T. (eds.) Proc. ODP. Sci. Results, 124: College Station, TX, 379-394.

9. von Breymann, M. T., K.C. Emeis and E. Suess,  1992. Water-depth and diagenetic constraints in the use of barium as a paleoproductivity indicator. In: Summerhayes, C. P., Prell, W. and Emeis, K. C. (eds.), Evolution of Upwelling Systems since the Early Miocene. Geol. Soc. of London, 273-284.

10. von Breymann, M. T., H. Brumsack and K. C. Emeis, 1992. Depositional and diagenetic behavior of barium in the Japan Sea. Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 128: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program), 651-665.

11. Murray, R. W., H. J. Brumsack , M. T. von Breymann, A. A. Sturtz, R. B. Dunbar and J. M. Gieskes, 1992. Diagenetic reactions in deeply buried sediments of the Japan Sea: A synthesis of interstitial-water chemistry results from Legs 127 and 128. In:  Pisciotto, K. A., J. C. Jr. Ingle, M. T. von Breymann, and J. Barron (eds.) Proc. ODP, Sci. Results, 127/128: Pt. 1, pp 1261-1273.

12. Berner, U., M. T. von Breymann, E. Farber and P. Bertrand, 1992. Gas geochemistry of ODP sites 767 and 768, Celebes and Sulu seas. In: Vially, R. (ed) Bacterial Gas. Proceedings conference held in Milan, September 25-26 1989. Editions Technip, France.

13. Linke, P., E. Suess, M. E. Torres, V. Martens, W. D. Rugh, W. Ziebis and L. D. Kulm, 1993. In situ  measurement of fluid flow from cold seeps at active continental margins. Deep Sea Res. 41: 721-739.

14. Martin, J. B., J. M. Gieskes, M. E. Torres and M. Kastner, 1993. Bromine and iodine in Peru margin sediments and pore fluids: Implications for fluid origins. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 57: 4377-4389.

15. Dia, A. N., L. Aquilina, J. Boulegue, J. Bourgois, E. Suess, and M. E. Torres, 1993. Origin of fluids and related barite deposits at vent sites along the Peru convergent margin. Geology 21: 099-1102.

16. Linke, P., Suess, E., Torres, M., Martens, V., Rugh, W.D., Ziebis, W. and Kulm, L.D., 1994. In situ measurement of fluid flow from cold seeps at active continental margins. Deep Sea Res. 41: 721-739.

17. Torres, M. E., K. M. Marsaglia, J. B. Martin and R. W. Murray, 1995. Sediment Diagenesis in Western Pacific Basins. In: B. Taylor and J. Natland (eds.) Active Margins and Marginal Basins of the Western Pacific, Geophysical Monograph 88, AGU, pp 241-258.

18. Torres, M. E., R. Bayer, G. Winckler, A. Suckow and P. N. Froelich, 1995. Elemental and isotopic abundance of noble gases in formation fluids recovered in situ from the Chile Triple Junction. ODP Sci. Results Leg 141: 321-329.

19. Zheng, Y., P. N. Froelich, M. E. Torres and A. Dia, 1995. Oxygen and strontium stable isotopes in pore fluids of the Chile Junction accretionary prism. ODP Sci. Results Leg 141: in press.

20. Froelich, P. N., K. A. Kvenvolden, M. E. Torres, A. Waseda, B. M. Didyk and T. D. Lorenson, 1995. Geochemical evidence for gas hydrate in sediments near the Chile Triple Junction. In: Lewis, S. D., Behrmann, J. H., Musgrave, R. J. and Cande, S. C. (eds.) Proc. ODP. Sci. Results, 141: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program) 141:279-286.

21. Torres, M. E., H. J. Brumsack, G. Bohrmann and K.C. Emeis, 1996. Barite fronts in continental margin sediments: A new look at barium remobilization in the zone of sulfate reduction and formation of heavy barites in authigenic fronts. Chem. Geol. 127: 125-139.

22. Torres, M. E., G. Bohrmann, and E. Suess, 1996. Authigenic barites and fluxes of barium associated with fluid seeps in the Peru subduction zones. Earth Planet. Sci. Letters 144: 469-481.

23. Bohrmann, G., J. Greinert, E. Suess and M. E.Torres, 1998. Authigenic carbonates from the Cascadia subduction zone and their relation to gas hydrate stability. Geology 26: 647-650.

24. Suess, E., M. E. Torres, G. Bohrmann, R. W. Collier, J. Greinert, P. Linke, G. Rehder, A. Trehu, K. Wallmann, G. Winckler, E. Zuleger, 1999.  Gas hydrate destabilization: Enhanced dewatering, benthic material turnover and large methane plumes at the Cascadia convergent margin. Earth Planet. Sci. Letts. 170:1-15.

25. Trehu, A. M, M. E. Torres, G. Moore, E. Suess and G. Bohrmann, 1999. Temporal and spatial evolution of a gas hydrate-bearing accretionary ridge on the Oregon continental margin. Geology 27: 939-942.

26. Tryon, M.D., K. M. Brown, M. E. Torres, A. M. Trehu, J. McManus and R.W. Collier, 1999. Measurements of transience and flow cycling near episodic methane gas vents, Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia. Geology 27: 1075-1078.

27. Torres, M. E., J. P. Barry, D. A. Hubbard, and E. Suess, 2001. Reconstructing the history of fluid flow at cold seep sites from Ba/Ca in vesicomyid clam shells. Limnol. and Oceanogr. 46(7): 1701-1708.

28. Suess, E., M.E. Torres, G. Bohrmann, R.W. Collier, D. Rickert, C. Goldfinger, P. Linke, A. Heuser, H. Sahling, K. Heeschen, C. Jung, K. Nakamura, J. Greinert, O. Pfannkuche, A. Tréhu, G. Klinkhammer, M.J. Whiticar, A. Eisenhauer, B. Teichert, M. Elvert, 2001. Sea floor methane hydrates at Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia Margin, AGU Monogr., Natural Gas Hydrates: Occurrence, Distribution, and Detection Geophysical Monograph 124, 87-98.

29. Trehu, A.M., N.L. Bangs, M.A. Arsenault, G. Bohrmann, C. Goldfinger, J.E. Johnson, Y. Nakamura, and M.E. Torres, Complex subsurface plumbing beneath southern Hydrate Ridge, Oregon continental margin, from high-resolution 3D seismic reflection and OBS data, Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Gas Hydrates, Yokohama, May 19-23, vol. 1, 90-96, 2002.

30. Suess, E., Bohrmann, G, Rickert, D., Kuhs, W., Torres, M., Trehu, A and Linke, P., 2002. Properties and fabric of near-surface hydrates at Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia margin. Fourth Intern. Conf. Gas Hydrates, Yokohama, Japan, 740-744.

31. Torres, M. E., McManus, et al., 2002.  Fluid and chemical fluxes in and out of sediments hosting methane hydrate deposits on Hydrate Ridge, OR: I. Hydrological provinces. Earth Planet. Sci. Letts., 201:525-540.

32. Tryon, M.D., K.M. Brown, M. E. Torres, 2002. Fluid and chemical fluxes in and out of sediments hosting hydrate deposits on Hydrate Ridge, OR, II: Observations and long-term records reveal insights into dynamic driving mechanisms, Earth Planet. Sci. Letts., 201:541-557.

33. Torres, M.E., McManus, J. and Huh, C-A., 2002. Fluid seepage along the San Clemente fault scarp: Impact on the geochemical barium cycles on a basin-wide scale. Earth Planet. Sci. Letts., 203:181-194

34. Tréhu, A.M., Bohrmann, G., Rack, F., Torres, M.E., et al., 2003, Proc. ODP, Init. Repts., Leg 204 [Online]. http://wwodp.tamu.edu/publications/204_IR/204ir.htm

35. Torres, M.E., Mix, A.C., Kinports, K., Haley, B., Klinkhammer, G.P., McManus, J and de Angelis, M.A.2003.  Is methane venting at the seafloor recorded by the d13C of benthic foraminifera shells?  Paleoceanography, 18(3) 1062-1075.

36. Torres, M.E., G. Bohrmann, T.E. Dubé, and F.G. Poole, 2003. Barite deposition at modern cold seeps: Analogue to Paleozoic bedded barite. Geology, 31(10) 897-900.

37. Tréhu, A.M.,  Long, P.E., Torres,  M. E,  et al. 2004, Three-dimensional distribution of gas hydrate beneath southern Hydrate Ridge: constraints from ODP Leg 204: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 222:845-862

38. Milkov, A.V., G.R. Dickens, G.E. Claypool, Y.-J. Lee, W.S. Borowski, M.E. Torres, W. Xu, H. Tomaru, A.M. Tréhu, P. Schultheiss, Co-existence of gas hydrate, free gas, and brine within the gas hydrate stability zone at the southern summit of Hydrate Ridge (Oregon margin): Evidence from prolonged degassing of a pressurized core. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 222:829-843

39. Milkov, A.V., G.E. Claypool, Y.-J. Lee, M.E. Torres, W.S. Borowski, H. Tomaru, R. Sassen, P. Long and the ODP Leg 204 Scientific Party, Ethane enrichment, propane depletion, and other compositional variations in subsurface gases: A new indicator of gas hydrate occurrence in marine sediments. Organic Geochemistry, in press.

40. Torres, M.E., Wallmann, K., Trehu, A.M., Bohrmann, G., Borowski, W.S. and Tomaru, H.,  2004. Gas hydrate growth, methane transport, and chloride enrichment at the southern summit of Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia margin off Oregon. Earth Planetary Science Letters, 226: 225-241.

41. Torres, M.E,  B. M. A. Teichert,  A. M. Tréhu, W. Borowski and H. Tomaru . 2004. Relationship of pore water freshening to accretionary processes in the Cascadia margin: Fluid sources and gas hydrate abundance. GRL vol 31, L22305, doi:10.1029/2004GL021219.

42. Trehu,  A.M. Flemings, P. B., Bangs, N. L., Chevalier,  J.,  Gracia, E., Johnson, J., Liu, C.-S., Liu, X, Riedel,  M., and Torres, M. E. 2004. Feeding methane vents and gas hydrate deposits at south Hydrate Ridge. GRL vol 31, L23310, doi:10.1029/2004GL021286.

43. Torres, M. E., Mix, A. and Rugh, W. D. 2005 Precise d13C analysis of dissolved inorganic carbon in natural waters using automated headspace sampling and continuous flow mass spectrometry. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 3:349-360.

44. Torres, M.E., Wallmann, K., Trehu, A.M., Bohrmann, G., Borowski, W.S. and Tomaru, H.,  2004. Reply to comment: Gas hydrate growth, methane transport, and chloride enrichment at the southern summit of Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia margin off Oregon. Earth Planetary Science Letters 239:168-175.

45. Teichert,  B.M.A. Torres, M. E., Bohrmann, M. E. and Einsenhauer, A. 2005. Fluid sources, fluid pathways and diagenetic reactions across an accretionary prism revealed by Sr and B geochemistry. Earth Planet. Sci. Letters, 239:106-121.

46. Trehu, A. M. and Torres, M. E. 2005. Distribution and dynamics of gas hydrates in the marine environment. In (Lehhr, J.H. and Keeley, eds.) Water Encyclopedia: oceanography. Wiley. P57-61.

47. Torres, M. E. and Rugh, W.D. 2006. Isotopic characterization of the dissolved inorganic carbon in pore waters recovered during leg 204: Data report. In: Trehu, A.M., Bohrmann, G. Torres, M.E. and Colwell, F. (eds.) Proc. ODP. Sci. Results, 204: College Station, TX (Ocean Drilling Program). [Online]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/204_SR/204sr.htm.

48. Tomaru, H; Torres, M.E., Matsumoto, R, and Borowski, W., 2006. Effect of massive gas hydrate formation on the water isotopic fractionation of the gas hydrate system at Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia margin offshore OR. G-Cubed,7 (10) doi:10.1029/2005GC001207 ISSN 1525-2027.

49. Claypool, G. E., A. V. Milkov, Y. -J. Lee, M. E. Torres, W. S. Borowski, and H. Tomaru (2006), Microbial Methane Generation and Gas Transport in Shallow Sediments of an Accretionary Complex, Southern Hydrate Ridge (ODP Leg 204), Offshore Oregon USA, in Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, edited by A.M. Trehu, G. Bohrmann, M.E. Torres, and  F.S. Colwell, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas. [Online]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/204_SR/204sr.htm.

50. Tomaru, H., Matsumoto, R., Torres, M.E. and Borowski, W. (2006) Geological and Geochemical Constraints on the Isotopic Composition of Interstitial Waters from the Hydrate Ridge Region, Cascadia Continental Margin. In Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, edited by A.M. Trehu, G. Bohrmann, M.E. Torres, and  F.S. Colwell, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas. [Online]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/204_SR/204sr.htm.

51. Underwood, M and Torres, M.E. Data report: Composition of clay minerals from hemipelagic sediments at Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia subduction zone. In Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, edited by A.M. Trehu, G. Bohrmann, M.E. Torres, and F.S. Colwell, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas. [Online]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/204_SR/204sr.htm.

52. Johnson, J., Goldfinger, C., Trehu, A.M., Bangs, N., Torres, M.E. and Chevalier, J. (2006) North-South Variability in the History of Deformation and Fluid Venting across Hydrate Ridge, Cascadia Margin. In Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, edited by A.M. Trehu, G. Bohrmann, M. E. Torres, and F.S. Colwell, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas. [Online]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/204_SR/204sr.htm.

53. Bohrmann, G. and Torres, M.E. 2006. Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments. In; Marine Geochemistry, second edition. Edited by H. D. Schulz and M. Zabel. Springer-Verlag,  Germany. pp482-512. 

54. Trehu, A. M., Torres, M.E., Bohrmann, G. and Colwell, F.S. (2006) Leg 204 Synthesis:  Gas hydrate distribution and dynamics in the central Cascadia accretionary complex. In Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, edited by A.M. Trehu, G. Bohrmann, M.E. Torres, and  F.S. Colwell, Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, Texas. [Online]. Available from World Wide Web: http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/204_SR/204sr.htm

55. McQuay, E., Torres, M. R., Collier, R. W., Huh, C-A, McManus, J. 2007. Contribution of cold seep barite to the barium geochemical budget of a marginal basin. Deep-Sea Res. Part I: Oceanogr. Res. Pap. V 55 n6: 801-811

56. Torres, M. E., Tréhu, A. M., Cespedes, N., Kastner, M., Wortmann, U. G., Kim, J-H., Long, P., Malinverno, A. , Pohlman, J. W., Riedel, M., Collett, T. 2008. Methane hydrate formation in turbidite sediments of northern Cascadia, IODP Expedition 311. Earth and Plan. Sci. Lett., v 271 n1-4: 170-180.

57. Malinverno, A., Kastner, M., Torres,  M. E. and Wortmann, U. G. 2008. Gas hydrate occurrence from pore water chlorinity and downhole logs in a transect across the northern Cascadia margin (IODP Exp 311). Journal of Geophysical Research. Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth v113 n8 (2008 08 04): B08103.

58. Torres, M. E. and Kastner, M. 2008. Clues about carbon cycling in methane bearing sediments using stable isotopes of the dissolved inorganic carbon: Data report, IODP Exp 311. In Riedel, M., Collett, T.S., Malone, M.J., and the Expedition 311 Scientists, Proc. IODP, 311: Washington, DC (Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International, Inc.). doi:10.2204/iodp.proc.311.206.2009. http://publications.iodp.org/proceedings/311/206/206_.htm

59. Teichert B.M.A.  Gussone N.  Torres M.E. 2009. Controls on calcium isotope fractionation in sedimentary porewaters. Earth and Planetary Science Letters v279 n3-4: 373-382 J.

60. Heuer, V.B., J.W. Pohlman, M.E. Torres, M. Elvert, and K.-U. Hinrichs (2009) The stable carbon isotope biogeochemistry of acetate and other dissolved carbon species in deep sub-seafloor sediments at the northern Cascadia Margin. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73, 3323-3336. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.03.001

61. Torres, M. E., Embley, R. W., Merle, S. G., Trehu, A. M., Collier, R. W. Suess, E. and Heeschen, K. 2009.  Methane sources feeding cold seeps on the shelf and upper continental slope off central Oregon, USA.  Geochemistry. Geophysics, Geosystems, volume 10 doi:10.1029/2009GC002518.

62. Torres, M.E., Collett, T. S., Rose, K., Sample, J., Agena, W, Rosembaum, E. 2009. Pore Fluid Geochemistry From The Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic Test Well, Alaska North Slope. Journal of Marine Petroleum Geology. doi: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2009.10.001

63. Torres, M. E., Martin, R. A., Klinkhammer, G. P. and Nesbitt, E. A. 2010. Post depositional alteration of foraminiferal shells in cold seep settings: New insights from Flow-Through Time-Resolved Analyses of biogenic and inorganic seep carbonates. Earth Planet. Sci. Letters, v299:10-22

64. Johnson, J.E., Solway, D., Disenhof, C., Torres, M.E., Hong, W-L., Rose, K., 2010, Identifying Slope Failure Deposits from a Potentially Mixed Magnetic Susceptibility Signal in Gas Hydrate Bearing Regions. Fire and Ice, The National Energy Technology Laboratory Methane Hydrate Newsletter. http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/publications/Hydrates/Newsl...

65. Torres, M.E., Zima, D., Falkner, K.K, Macdonald, R. W., O’Brien, M., Schöne, B. R., Siferd, T. 2011. Hydrographic changes in Nares Strait (Canadian Arctic Archipelago) in recent decades based on δ18O profiles of bivalve shells. The Arctic Journal, vol 64: 45-58.

66. Torres, M.E., J-H. Kim, J. Choi, J-B Ryu, J-J Bahk, M. Riedel, T. Collett, W-L. Hong and M. Kastner. 2011. Occurrence of high salinity fluids associated with massive near-seafloor gas hydrate deposits. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Gas Hydrates (ICGH 2011), Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, July 17-21, 2011.

67. Briggs,B. R.,  J.W. Pohlman, M. Torres, M. Riedel, E.L. Brodie, and F.S. Colwell. 2011. Macroscopic Biofilms in Fracture-Dominated Sediment that Anaerobically Oxidize Methane. Appl. Envir. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/AEM.00288-1

68. Kim, J-H, M. E. Torres, B. A. Haley, M. Kastner, J. W. Pohlman, M. Riedel, and Y-J Lee. 2012. The effect of diagenesis and fluid migration on rare earth element distribution in pore fluids of the northern Cascadia accretionary margin. Chemical Geology, 291:152-165

69. Winters, W., M. Walker, T. Collett, R. Boswell, W. Waite, M. E. Torres, S. Patil, A. Dandekar., 2011. Physical properties of sediment from the Mount Elbert Gas Hydrate Stratigraphic Test Well, Alaska North Slope. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 28: 361-380

70. Kim, J-H., M. E. Torres, J. Choi, J-J Bahk, M-H Park, and W-L Hong., 2012. Inferences on gas transport based on molecular and isotopic signatures of gases at acoustic chimneys and background sites in the Ulleung Basin. Organic Geochemistry, 43:26-38