Abstract:

Sedimentation rates at (28º 42.55N, 88º 25.34W) at about 1500m depth, 120 m above the seafloor between August 2010 and October 2011. A funnel shaped time series sediment trap (Kiel 21- trap, KUM) with a collection area of 0.5 m^2 was used to measure flux of particles about seven km SW of the Deepwater Horizon well in twenty 21-day intervals. Sinking material was fixed in-situ with mercuric chloride in a salinity gradient (40 PSU). After retrieving the trap, samples were examined microscopically (phytoplankton and foraminifera flux), analyzed for dry mass, inorganic matter, particulate organic and inorganic carbon (POC & PIC), organic nitrogen, biogenic silica, transparent exopolymer particles, barium, aluminum, and iron. Sample aliquots were processed by colleagues (Chanton, Yan) for stable isotopes (R4.x268.186:0003) and diverse oil markers (R4.x268.184:0006).

Suggested Citation:

Uta Passow. 2016. Sediment trap (Kiel 21- trap, KUM) particle flux measurements, Gulf of Mexico, August 2010 to October 2011. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7MK69V2

Publications:

Yan, B., Passow, U., Chanton, J. P., Nöthig, E.-M., Asper, V., Sweet, J., … Pak, D. (2016). Sustained deposition of contaminants from theDeepwater Horizonspill. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 113(24), E3332–E3340. doi:10.1073/pnas.1513156113

Passow, U., & Stout, S. A. (2020). Character and sedimentation of “lingering” Macondo oil to the deep-sea after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Marine Chemistry, 218, 103733. doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2019.103733

Purpose:

Assess sinking flux or particles and oil after the DwH spill

Data Parameters and Units:

collection area (m2); DW: dry weight (mg/m^2/d); POC+PIC: particulate organic carbon & particulate inorganic carbon (mg/m^2/d); PIM: particulate inorganic matter (mg/m^2/d); POC: particulate organic carbon (mg/m^2/d); PON: particulate organic nitrogen (mg/m^2/d); diatoms, coccolithophorids, feces, foraminifera, protozoa all in (#/m^2/d); TEP: transparent exopolymer particles (mg GumXanthanequivalent/m^2/d), Bsi: biogenic silica (mmol/m^2/d); aluminum, iron, barium all in (mg/m^2/d); DL: at detection limit; NA: no analysis; date (M/DD/YYYY); Series; Cup; Split (1/X)

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