Identification of seafloor provinces - specific applications at the deep-sea Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano and the North Sea

• Main Author: Jerosch, Kerstin
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Barents Sea
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/15085/; https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/15085/1/Jer2006e.pdf; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.25278; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.25278.d001

Recently, geological, geochemical, and biological data collection increased considerably in the marine environment together with ecological, economical, and scientific interests in marine coastal environments (e.g. North Sea) and ocean margins (e.g. Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano). The increasing amount of geodata results from new sampling devices, as in situ sensors, and mobile underwater platforms as ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), or from satellite-supported data transfer from moorings. Compared to the multitude of measured parameters and the quantity of information compiled during multidisciplinary research cruises, only few concepts and methods were developed for visualisation, distribution of data and thematic maps, efficient integration of the inhomogeneous data into existing database structures, management and spatial analysis of geodata.The identification of distinct provinces is currently an emphasis of marine research geosciences. A typological approach combining geological, biological and chemical properties is accomplished by geostatistical, multivariate statistical, and GIS techniques (Geographical Information System). Besides scientific needs as surface-related balances of geological and geochemical cycles, seafloor provinces support management decisions related to upcoming economic use of the seafloor (e.g. such as installation of off-shore wind parks or the declaration of protection zones) and bear up to model spatio-temporal connections and changes of coastal regions.Submarine mud volcanoes are considered as significant source locations for methane indicated by unique chemoautotrophic communities as Beggiatoa mats and pogonophoran tube worms. The Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano (HMMV) is located at the continental slope of the Barents Sea in a water depth of 1260 m. A large amount of georeferenced video mosaics and microbathymetric data, derived from a camera system and a multibeam echo sounding system mounted onto the ROV Victor6000 (Ifremer), are basis for a ...