Hydrocarbon seepage in the deep seabed links subsurface and seafloor biospheres

The Geomorphology and Nature of Seabed Seepage Processes

Deep Pore Pressures and Seafloor Venting In

The pore pressures of the S, R, Q and P sands follow the hydrostatic gradient and are in pressure communication across the entire Auger basin, Gulf of Mexico. At the structural crests of these sands the pore pressures exceed the least principle stress; directly above the sand crests, are a series of mud volcanoes. Using 3-D seismic and pressure data we map the distribution of subsurface pressur...

Energetics of life on the deep seafloor.

With frigid temperatures and virtually no in situ productivity, the deep oceans, Earth's largest ecosystem, are especially energy-deprived systems. Our knowledge of the effects of this energy limitation on all levels of biological organization is very incomplete. Here, we use the Metabolic Theory of Ecology to examine the relative roles of carbon flux and temperature in influencing metabolic ra...

Spatial Variability and Robust Interpolation of Seafloor Sediment Properties Using the SEABED Data Bases

There are huge amounts of data that describe the character of the seabed based on samplings and direct inspections made over decades. That data continues to grow rapidly and are still the richest and most detailed source of seabed information, an essential adjunct of modern remote sensed data types. One impediment to the wider use of the sample data is that it is difficult to draw area-maps (gr...

Going Deep: Cautious Steps toward Seabed Mining

The ocean floor is home to a wealth of species, some of which—such as this bamboo coral (Isidella tentaculum)—have only recently been discovered. Proponents of seabed mining claim it causes less ecological damage than terrestrial extraction. But some researchers are concerned that seabed mining could overwhelm deep-sea ecosystems, adding to concerns about the health of the oceans.