Coastal and shelf seas are shallow, and undergo sediment resuspension events caused by both natural events and anthropogenic activity. The project aims to understand the effect that these resuspension effects have on nutrient fluxes to the overlying water and any subsequent impact on water chemistry and thus primary production. This is a multidisciplinary, processes oriented study that incorporates in situ fieldwork, laboratory work and modelling.
A series of research cruises were carried out in the North Sea aboard the Cefas Endeavour as part of the Cefas/Defra Marine Ecosystems Connections Program. An in situ flume (Voyager II) was deployed at three sites inducing erosion to allow the measurement of nutrient fluxes. Alongside this, smaller annular flumes were used on ship and in the laboratory to give high-resolution measurements of nutrient fluxes during resuspension events. The data from these experiments will be incorporated into a diagenic model, to model the effect that resuspension events have on the nutrient cycle.
Dates: 2007-2011
Funding agencies: NERC, DEFRA, CEFAS
PI: Dr Gary Fones, University of Portsmouth
CI: Professor Peter Statham
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