Deep Ocean Flashcards
Deep Ocean
How does coarser sediment get to the deep ocean?
Gravity
Turbidity Current Causes
-Sediment failure
-Earthquakes
-River floods
Turbidity Current consists of
-Head, Body, tail
1.Head contains sediment; denser than water; flows by gravity
2.Turbulence:
-Friction w/ still water (Slows head)
-Body runs into head
-Creates turbulence
3.Keeps sediment up and flowing
What are other transport processes for terrigenous processes for terrigenous sediments to the deep ocean?
-Wind (Dust/clay)
-Climatic Affect (Mechanical weathering (Cold): Chlorite, illite)(Chemical weathering(Warm): Kaolinite)
-Ice rafted (Dropstone)
-Glacial (Morraines)
-Volcanoes (Tephra)
-Meteorites (Tektites)
Primary production
6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
Respiration/Decomposition
C6H12O6 + 6O2 -> 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy
___ skeletal Skeletal remains of pelagic organisms
> 30%
What organisms produce calcareous oozes?
-Forminfera (Animal)
-Coccolithophore (Plants)
-Pteropod (Animal)
Calcium Carbonate is supersaturated at surface __
CCD (Calcite compensation Depth) - Depth at which calcite dissolves faster than it is deposited
Where calcium carbonate sed’s begin to dissolve
-Order with depth:
1. Pteropod - argonite shell
2. Foraminifera - calcite shell
3. Coccolithophore - Calcite shell w/ organic coating
Where would you expect calcareous oozes to be deposited
-Above CCD
-Highest ridges and plateaus
Calcareous Oozes changes to:
-Chalk - 300 m depth
-Limestone - 1 km depth
What organisms produce siliceous oozes?
-Diatom (plant)
-Radiolarian (Animal)
-Silicaflagellate (Animal or plant)
Siliceous Oozes highest under
upwelling zones
Siliceous Oozes changes to
Chert
Turbulence keep fine particles ___
suspended
Sapropels
Preserved organic material under anoxic conditions
How fin particles transported to the bottom?
Fecal pellets and flocculation
