1. Sediments & Ocean Water Properties …a two way street
Ocean currents & water density help us understand the formation and distribution of sediments
Sediments help us understand how ocean water physics/chemistry work and how the ocean has changed over time

2. How do we collect this sediment?
Sediment Cores
Deep Seafloor Sample
Grab sample
Seafloor surface
Sediment trap
Water column

4. Why do we collect this sediment?
Climate change/environmental change
Effects on biology
Effects on earth physics/chemistry
Pollution patterns & connection to ocean currents
Mineral resources

5. Climate/Environmental Change
Biogenous sediment is especially helpful
Types/condition of calcium carbonate shells found
Gives clues as to what type of environment the organisms lived in

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

7. Climate/Environmental Change
Oxygen isotopes
18O evaporates less quickly than 16O
Build up of 18O = colder temperatures (glacial/ice age)
Fine-grained (abyssal) lithogenous sediment especially helpful

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

9. Mineral Resources (human use)
Salt beds
Sand/gravel/gypsum
Manganese Nodules:
Mined for cobalt, copper, nickel, platinum