Actual Sédimentation on the Antarctic Continental
Shelf (Southern Part of the Ross Sea)
S. Tucci, M. Ferrari and M. Capello
Dipartimento di Scienze délia Terra, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa 26,
16132 Genova, Italy
Abstract
During the austral summer 1994-95 the C.L.I.M.A. Project carried out an océanographie cruise aimed at improving the caracterization of water masses inside the
Ross Sea. A sériés of 154 CTD casts was performed and water samples were collected to study particulate matter, concentration data and dimensional analyses of
particulate matter were correlated with physical characteristics. In the area of the
Ross Ice Shelf high concentrations of particulate matter seem to coincide with the
caracteristics of “Deep Ice Shelf Waters” and “Warm Core Waters”. The relationship between water masses and characteristics of particulate matter hâve enabled
us to use this one as a natural tracer to identify flow pathways; results hâve also
allowed to define a general hypothesis on actual sédimentation during the austral
summer in the proximity of the RIS and at the edge of the continental shelf.
1 Introduction
Antarctic areas présent a sériés of idéal conditions for following the progress of
suspended matter in the water. The absence of river sédiment and the presence of
a completely natural organic component make it possible to draw a sériés of conclusions that would be difficult elsewhere due to variables that are difficult to control and evaluate. The ice, covering almost ail the coastline and much of the waters
of the internai shelf for between 8 and 12 months a year, limits sédiment to that
carried by the glaciers. This situation also affects the transport of sédiments,
which are often redistributed exclusively by océanographie dynamics [1].
There is a very close relationship between the gravitative dynamics of suspended particles and the physical and dynamic characteristics of the mass of
water [2]. The sédimentation of suspended particles follows preferential lines of
conveyance where there are well-defined masses of water. It is also heavily affected by thermocline and thermohaline fronts, which act as physical barriers conditioning the gravitative movement of the particles. The relationship between the
diffusion of suspended particles and the physical and dynamic characteristics of
the mass of water make it possible to use the suspended matter as a natural tracer to identify flow lines and characteristics of different water masses. This provides a very stable record of the conditions of the column of water.
During the 1994-1995 austral summer, the National Antarctic Research
Shelf (Southern Part of the Ross Sea)
S. Tucci, M. Ferrari and M. Capello
Dipartimento di Scienze délia Terra, Università degli Studi di Genova, Corso Europa 26,
16132 Genova, Italy
Abstract
During the austral summer 1994-95 the C.L.I.M.A. Project carried out an océanographie cruise aimed at improving the caracterization of water masses inside the
Ross Sea. A sériés of 154 CTD casts was performed and water samples were collected to study particulate matter, concentration data and dimensional analyses of
particulate matter were correlated with physical characteristics. In the area of the
Ross Ice Shelf high concentrations of particulate matter seem to coincide with the
caracteristics of “Deep Ice Shelf Waters” and “Warm Core Waters”. The relationship between water masses and characteristics of particulate matter hâve enabled
us to use this one as a natural tracer to identify flow pathways; results hâve also
allowed to define a general hypothesis on actual sédimentation during the austral
summer in the proximity of the RIS and at the edge of the continental shelf.
1 Introduction
Antarctic areas présent a sériés of idéal conditions for following the progress of
suspended matter in the water. The absence of river sédiment and the presence of
a completely natural organic component make it possible to draw a sériés of conclusions that would be difficult elsewhere due to variables that are difficult to control and evaluate. The ice, covering almost ail the coastline and much of the waters
of the internai shelf for between 8 and 12 months a year, limits sédiment to that
carried by the glaciers. This situation also affects the transport of sédiments,
which are often redistributed exclusively by océanographie dynamics [1].
There is a very close relationship between the gravitative dynamics of suspended particles and the physical and dynamic characteristics of the mass of
water [2]. The sédimentation of suspended particles follows preferential lines of
conveyance where there are well-defined masses of water. It is also heavily affected by thermocline and thermohaline fronts, which act as physical barriers conditioning the gravitative movement of the particles. The relationship between the
diffusion of suspended particles and the physical and dynamic characteristics of
the mass of water make it possible to use the suspended matter as a natural tracer to identify flow lines and characteristics of different water masses. This provides a very stable record of the conditions of the column of water.
During the 1994-1995 austral summer, the National Antarctic Research