1. How do we collect this sediment?
Sediment Cores
Grab sample
Sediment trap

3. Why do we collect this sediment?
Climate change/environmental change
Effects on biology
Effects on earth physics/chemistry
Pollution patterns
Mineral resources

4. Climate/Environmental Change
Types/condition of calcium carbonate shells found
Gives clues as to what type of environment the organisms lived in

5. Climate/Environmental Change
Oxygen isotopes
18O evaporates less quickly than 16O
Build up of 18O = colder temperatures (glacial/ice age)

6. Climate/Environmental Change
Distribution of biogenous sediment/ fossils indicates continental environment
“North Pole 'was once subtropical'”--2004

7. Changes in sediment color can indicate:
Temperature change
pH change  ocean acidification
CO2 levels

8. Mineral Resources Salt beds Sand/gravel/gypsum Manganese Nodules:
Mined for cobalt, copper, nickel, platinum