Global assessment of benthic nepheloid layers and linkage with upper ocean dynamics

Gardner, Wilford D.; Richardson, Mary Jo; Mishonov, Alexey V.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2017.11.008

i

Global assessment of benthic nepheloid layers and linkage with upper ocean dynamics

2018
By Gardner, Wilford D. ; Richardson, Mary Jo ; Mishonov, Alexey V.

Details

Journal Title:

Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Personal Author:

Gardner, Wilford D. ; Richardson, Mary Jo ; Mishonov, Alexey V.
NOAA Program & Office:

NESDIS (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) ; NCEI (National Centers for Environmental Information) ; CICS (Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites)
Description:

Global maps of the maximum bottom concentration, thickness, and integrated particle mass in benthic nepheloid layers are published here to support collaborations to understand deep ocean sediment dynamics, linkage with upper ocean dynamics, and assessing the potential for scavenging of adsorption-prone elements near the deep ocean seafloor. Mapping the intensity of benthic particle concentrations from natural oceanic processes also provides a baseline that will aid in quantifying the industrial impact of current and future deep-sea mining. Benthic nepheloid layers have been mapped using 6,392 full-depth profiles made during 64 cruises using our transmissometers mounted on CTDs in multiple national/international programs including WOCE, SAVE, JGOFS, CLIVAR-Repeat Hydrography, and GO-SHIP during the last four decades. Intense benthic nepheloid layers are found in areas where eddy kinetic energy in overlying waters, mean kinetic energy 50 m above bottom (mab), and energy dissipation in the bottom boundary layer are near the highest values in the ocean. Areas of intense benthic nepheloid layers include the Western North Atlantic, Argentine Basin in the South Atlantic, parts of the Southern Ocean and areas around South Africa. Benthic nepheloid layers are weak or absent in most of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic basins away from continental margins. High surface eddy kinetic energy is associated with the Kuroshio Current east of Japan. Data south of the Kuroshio show weak nepheloid layers, but no transmissometer data exist beneath the Kuroshio, a deficiency that should be remedied to increase understanding of eddy dynamics in un-sampled and under-sampled oceanic areas.
Keywords:

Benthic Ecology Erosion Particulate Matter Benthic Ecology Particulate Matter Benthic Nepheloid Layers Benthic Storms Earth And Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous) Eddy Kinetic Energy Erosion Geochemistry And Petrology Geophysics Particulate Matter Resuspension Space And Planetary Science
Source:

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 482, 126-134
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.11.008
Document Type:

Journal Article
Rights Information:

Accepted Manuscript
Rights Statement:

The NOAA IR provides access to this content under the authority of the government's retained license to distribute publications and data resulting from federal funding. While users may legally access this content, the copyright owners retain rights that govern the reproduction, redistribution, and re-use of this work. The user is solely responsible for complying with applicable copyright law.
Compliance:

Submitted
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha-512:0a9db0790bd05d551e24d4a97506c693a6f6801a74e33e009e9190c0fb01006da2f55bce3573dfc7c0e8db596f073450bb66f7a23e2640756ff6a5905dd328ed
Download URL:

https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/46549/noaa_46549_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 3.76 MB ]

ON THIS PAGE

Details

The NOAA IR serves as an archival repository of NOAA-published products including scientific findings, journal articles, guidelines, recommendations, or other information authored or co-authored by NOAA or funded partners. As a repository, the NOAA IR retains documents in their original published format to ensure public access to scientific information.