St Andrews Research Repository

St Andrews University Home
View Item 
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  •   St Andrews Research Repository
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • University of St Andrews Research
  • View Item
  • Login
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

Biomediation of submarine sediment gravity flow dynamics

Thumbnail
View/Open
Craig_2019_Geology_Biomediation_CC.pdf (421.6Kb)
Date
01/2020
Author
Craig, Melissa J.
Baas, Jaco H.
Amos, Kathryn J.
Strachan, Lorna J.
Manning, Andrew J.
Paterson, David M.
Hope, Julie A.
Nodder, Scott D.
Baker, Megan L.
Keywords
QE Geology
DAS
Metadata
Show full item record
Altmetrics Handle Statistics
Altmetrics DOI Statistics
Abstract
Sediment gravity flows are the primary process by which sediment and organic carbon are transported from the continental margin to the deep ocean. Up to 40% of the total marine organic carbon pool is represented by cohesive extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by microorganisms. The effect of these polymers on sediment gravity flows has not been investigated, despite the economic and societal importance of these flows. We present the first EPS concentrations measured in deep-sea sediment, combined with novel laboratory data that offer insights into the modulation of the dynamics of clay-laden, physically cohesive sediment gravity flows by biological cohesion. We show that EPS can profoundly affect the character, evolution, and runout of sediment gravity flows and are as prevalent in deep oceans as in shallow seas. Transitional and laminar plug flows are more susceptible to EPS-induced changes in flow properties than turbulent flows. At relatively low concentrations, EPS markedly decrease the head velocity and runout distance of transitional flows. This biological cohesion is greater, per unit weight, than the physical cohesion of cohesive clay and may exert a stronger control on flow behavior. These results significantly improve our understanding of the effects of an unrealized biological component of sediment gravity flows. The implications are wide ranging and may influence predictive models of sediment gravity flows and advance our understanding about the ways in which these flows transport and bury organic carbon globally.
Citation
Craig , M J , Baas , J H , Amos , K J , Strachan , L J , Manning , A J , Paterson , D M , Hope , J A , Nodder , S D & Baker , M L 2020 , ' Biomediation of submarine sediment gravity flow dynamics ' , Geology , vol. 48 , no. 1 , pp. 72-76 . https://doi.org/10.1130/G46837.1
Publication
Geology
Status
Peer reviewed
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1130/G46837.1
ISSN
0091-7613
Type
Journal article
Rights
Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Gold Open Access: This paper is published under the terms of the CC-BY license.
Description
The Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship funded Craig’s Ph.D. candidature. An International Association of Sedimentologists Postgraduate Award Grant funded Craig’s visit to Bangor University (Bangor, UK). The UK Natural Environment Research Council grant NE/1027223/1 (COHBED project) enabled this research to be undertaken using the flume facility built by Rob Evans (Bangor University).
Collections
  • University of St Andrews Research
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10023/19326

Items in the St Andrews Research Repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Advanced Search

Browse

All of RepositoryCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunderThis CollectionBy Issue DateNamesTitlesSubjectsClassificationTypeFunder

My Account

Login

Open Access

To find out how you can benefit from open access to research, see our library web pages and Open Access blog. For open access help contact: openaccess@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Accessibility

Read our Accessibility statement.

How to submit research papers

The full text of research papers can be submitted to the repository via Pure, the University's research information system. For help see our guide: How to deposit in Pure.

Electronic thesis deposit

Help with deposit.

Repository help

For repository help contact: Digital-Repository@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Give Feedback

Cookie policy

This site may use cookies. Please see Terms and Conditions.

Usage statistics

COUNTER-compliant statistics on downloads from the repository are available from the IRUS-UK Service. Contact us for information.

© University of St Andrews Library

University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013532.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter