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Dynamic processes observed at a gas hydrate outcropping on the continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico

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Abstract

A deep-sea time-lapse camera and several temperature probes were deployed on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf at a biological community associated with a gas hydrate outcropping to study topographic and hydrologic changes over time. The deployment site, Bush Hill (GC-185), is located at 27°47.5′ N and 91°15.0′ W at depths of ∼540 m. The digital camera recorded one still image every 6 h for July-October in 2001, every 2 h for the month of June 2002, and every 6 h for the month of July 2002. Temperature probes were in place at the site for the entire experimental period. The data recovered provide a record of processes that occur at gas hydrate mounds. Sediment resuspension over the mound causes significant variation in luminosity of the time-lapse photographs. A marked diurnal pattern can be seen in the temperature and luminosity records. No major change in shape or size of the gas hydrate outcrop at this site was observed during this study. Stable topography of the gas hydrate mound, combined with high bacterial activity and sediment turnover, appears to focus biological activity in the mound area. Frequency and recurrence of sediment resuspension indicate that short-term change in the depth and distribution of surface sediments is a feature of the benthos at the site. Because the sediment interface is a critical environment for hydrocarbon oxidation and chemosynthesis, short-term variability and heterogeneity may be important characteristics of these settings.

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Acknowledgements

This work could not have been completed without the editorial assistance of Dr. M.C. Kennicutt II, and technical support from the crew of the R/V Seward Johnson I and II, and the Johnson Sea-Link submersible, both operated by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. We thank the M. Kastner laboratory for collaboration. Funding was provided by the DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory, the National Science Foundation (OCE-0085549), and the NOAA National Undersea Research Program (University of North Carolina, Wilmington Center). A stipend from the Sustainable Coastal Margins Project at Texas A&M University supported M.F. Vardaro during preparation of this manuscript. Critical review of the manuscript by H.R Roberts and an anonymous reviewer provided very helpful comments and corrections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD Mail Code 0208, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0208, USA

    Michael F. Vardaro

  2. Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Dr. ST320, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, USA

    Ian R. MacDonald

  3. Texas A&M University–GERG, 833 Graham Rd., College Station, TX, 77845, USA

    Leslie C. Bender & Norman L. Guinasso Jr

Authors
  1. Michael F. Vardaro
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  2. Ian R. MacDonald
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  3. Leslie C. Bender
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  4. Norman L. Guinasso Jr
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Correspondence to Ian R. MacDonald.

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Vardaro, M.F., MacDonald, I.R., Bender, L.C. et al. Dynamic processes observed at a gas hydrate outcropping on the continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico. Geo-Mar Lett 26, 6–15 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-005-0010-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-005-0010-2

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