Ocean 443:  Proposal Outline- Christina Biladeau

1.      Title Page

a.       Instantaneous sedimentation rates of Tarr Inlet in late March.

b.      Christina Biladeau, Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195.

c.       February 13^th ,2008

2.      Project Summary

a.       To determine instantaneous sedimentation rates within Tarr inlet

b.      NetTraps will be used to collect sediment falling through the water. X-ray diffraction will be used to determine the types of clays that make up the sediment. Petrographic observations will be made to determine if the sediment grains are immature.

c.       I expect the instantaneous accumulation rates to be less than that of the yearly average.

3.      Introduction: 

a.       Nothing is known about the rate the sediment accumulates in Tarr Inlet in late March

b.      Rates of sedimentation affect biological communities and the burial of toxins in the sediment, knowing more about how sediment accumulation rates differ due to time of year may indicate how the environment changes with the seasons.

c.       The objective is to determine the instantaneous accumulation rate of sediment in Tarr Inlet in conjunction with the hypothesis that the instantaneous accumulation rates will decrease as distance from the glacier increases.

4.      Proposed Research:

a.       The goal is to determine the instantaneous accumulation rate of sediment. Secondary goals are to use x-ray diffraction to determine what types of clays make up the sediment and compare to ^210-Pb accumulation rates. 

b.      Methods

                                                  i.      In the field I will need to deploy sediment traps to collect my sediment. I will need to time how long my traps have been in the water to determine the accumulation rate. While aboard ship I should be able to weigh the sediment samples and determine the sedimentation rates. (I don’t know what method I am using and therefore don’t know all of the equipment I will be needing).

                                                ii.      Lab analysis will be the X-ray diffraction, which will be done by the UW Materials and engineering department. Slides for the petrographic observations will be made by the geology department.

c.       Deployment and recovery of nets will take 45 minutes each. I don’t know how long it will take to weigh the samples in the lab. Things to be analyzed by other labs shouldn’t take more than a couple of days at most.  

e.       special considerations for collection and/or analysis of samples or data that might constrain your work. 

                                                  i.      Need to know the ²¹⁰Pb accumulation rate for core taken where a trap was deployed

5.      Project Budget:

a.       A tabular summary of all costs associated with carrying out your work.  Clearly indicate which are real project costs and which items (such as Thompson time) are being provided at no charge to your project.

                                                  i.      ship time; days total for the cruise and hours (estimated) for your work.  Use a cost of $22,000/day for the R/V Thompson.

                                                ii.      no rental

                                              iii.      supplies and expendables- not sure..need help

                                              iv.      $20/hr for x-ray diffraction analysis   

6.      References: 

Cai, J. et al. 1997. Lithofacies and seismic-reflection interpretation of temperate glacimarine sedimentation in Tarr Inlet, Glacier Bay Alaska. Mar. Geol. 143: 5-37

Moore, P.G. 1977. Inorganic particle suspension in the sea and their effects on marine animals. Oceanogr Mar Biol. 15: 224-363

Peterson, M.L. et al. Novel techniques of collection of sinking particles in the ocean and determining their settling rates. Limnol. Oceanogr. 3: 520-532