07.03.2014 Views

standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

standardization of environmental data and information - International ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

2.3. Thickness <strong>of</strong> semi-liquid layer<br />

In the Peru Basin, the semi-liquid layer -- the intensively bioturbated,<br />

homogenised upper sediment layer -- is considerably thicker than that in the<br />

Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ). Thickness varies mainly between<br />

8 <strong>and</strong> 12 cm (up to 20 cm including the transition zone). As the semi-liquid<br />

layer is dark brown (oxic, rich in Fe/Mn oxides 9 ) <strong>and</strong> mainly underlain by a<br />

suboxic, light-olive coloured sequence, a quick <strong>and</strong> easy method to define<br />

its thickness is colour measurement <strong>of</strong> the sediment 10 . Other methods that<br />

we applied include measurement <strong>of</strong> water content/porosity, bulk density<br />

<strong>and</strong> shear strength 11 . Methods may differ by 2 cm in defining the lower<br />

boundary <strong>of</strong> the semi-liquid layer; this is also due to a transition zone below.<br />

Shear-strength defined thickness <strong>of</strong> the semi-liquid top shows a slight<br />

increase in thickness with increasing water depth.<br />

Furthermore, there appears to be a relationship between the<br />

thickness <strong>of</strong> the semi-liquid layer <strong>and</strong> the size <strong>of</strong> manganese nodules: sites<br />

with a thick semi-liquid layer tend to have smaller nodules (<strong>and</strong> a fairly slow<br />

growth rate) 12 .<br />

Conclusion: The semi-liquid layer in the Peru Basin is considerably<br />

thicker than in the CCFZ (due to its higher sedimentation rate). Its<br />

thickness is a key parameter for assessing the near-bottom impact <strong>of</strong> future<br />

nodule mining (extent <strong>of</strong> the resuspension plume).<br />

2.4. Bioturbation<br />

Besides the intensive biological activity responsible for the<br />

homogeneity <strong>of</strong> the semi-liquid top layer, cores taken in the Peru Basin<br />

display deeper reaching bioturbation, which generates a mottled<br />

appearance <strong>of</strong> the sediments. Mottling results from mixing <strong>of</strong> olive-coloured<br />

sediment with dark brown sediment from above (or infill <strong>of</strong> surface<br />

sediment in burrows). Thus, the downcore colour record, with its <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

greater than 10 cm “transition zone” below the semi-liquid layer, provides a<br />

first measure to assess how deep this zone <strong>of</strong> bioturbation may reach.<br />

Analysis <strong>of</strong> excess Pb-210 indicates that, in the Peru Basin, near-recent<br />

sediment (age: 45 cm (<strong>of</strong>ten down to 30-45 cm) 13<br />

Conclusion: Traces <strong>of</strong> biological activity are found downcore, <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

to a depth <strong>of</strong> 30-45 cm, indicating that some organisms can burrow well<br />

152 INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!