PACIFICPLATE
45 mm/yr
AUSTRALIANPLATET
ectonics
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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
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