PACIFICPLATE

45 mm/yr

AUSTRALIANPLATET

ectonics

Lionel Carter NIWA

Wp 35 Mt/y

Uw 5 Mt/y

Wa 15 M

t/y

Sediment

Supply

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Going Hyperpycnal

In Cyclone Bola 40. 106 t discharged in 6 days.

2m thick fluid mud layeron continental shelf.

Organisms smothered but recolonized 2 months later after mud dispersed

Photograph by Dave Peacock GDC, August 2002

Lionel Carter NIWA

Climate and sediment input - ENSO

Major storm events from Lake Tutira

El Nino

Sou

ther

n O

scill

atio

n In

dex

+

+

++

++

+

+

+

+

?

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Shelf

Currents

From Chiswell, 2000

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25.4

25.5

25.6

25.7

25.8

25.9

26

26.1

26.2

26.3

26.4

WaipaoaRiver

10 cm/s

Velocity and Density, 10m, 17 Sep 98

De

nsi

ty (

kg m

-3)

Scott Stephens, NIWA

Poverty Bay

Circulation

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Scott Stephens, NIWA

onshore

offs

hore

Forced

Circulation

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m

Mud capture in shelf synclinal basins

1

1

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Response of the deep ocean flux

*MD2121

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Where to next?

How does climate affect sediment input?How will future climate affect delivery?Tectonic control on sediment input?Hyperpycnal vs hypopycnal dispersal? Is there distant transport of nutrients to

e.g., Fe-limited fronts?

Lionel Carter NIWA