Sediment reworking rates in deep sediments of the Mediterranean Sea.

ABSTRACT

Different pelagic areas of the Mediterranean Sea have been investigated in order to quantify physical and biological mixing processes in deep sea sediments. Herein, results of eleven sediment cores sampled at different deep areas (> 2000 m) of the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Sea are presented. ²¹°Pb(xs) and ¹³7Cs vertical profiles, together with ¹4C dating, are used to identify the main processes characterising the different areas and, finally, controlling mixing depths (SML) and bioturbation coefficients (D(b)). Radionuclide vertical profiles and inventories indicate that bioturbation processes are the dominant processes responsible for sediment reworking in deep sea environments. Results show significant differences in sediment mixing depths and bioturbation coefficients among areas of the Mediterranean Sea characterised by different trophic regimes. In particular, in the Oran Rise area, where the Almeria-Oran Front induces frequent phytoplankton blooms, we calculate the highest values of sediment mixing layers (13 cm) and bioturbation coefficients (0.187 cm² yr⁻¹), and the highest values of ²¹°Pb(xs) and ¹³7Cs inventories. Intermediate values of SML and D(b) (~6 cm and ~0.040 cm² yr⁻¹, respectively) characterise the mesothrophic Algero-Balearic basin, while in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea mixing parameters (SML of 3 cm and D(b) of 0.011 cm² yr⁻¹ are similar to those calculated for the oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean (SML of 2 cm and D(b) of ~0.005 cm² yr⁻¹).