Vertical fluxes of hydrocarbons on the North West Shelf of Western Australia as estimated by a sediment trap study

This study was conducted in order to provide preliminary information on carbon cycling on the North West Shelf, extending from Exmouth shelf to Exmouth Plateau. The research aimed to understand the spatial scale of petroleum biomarkers in the water column, and to estimate the speed of synthesis and degradation of organic matter and hydrocarbons in the water column and surface sedimentsSix replicated sediment traps arrays were attached to wire moorings, fitted with S4 current meters below each trap. The arrays were deployed at stations throughout the region. Surface sediment samples were collected with a Smith-McIntyre grab sampler and core samples were collected using a Kasten Corer. Using molecular lipid biomarkers to indicate the sources of biogenic organic carbon and petroleum, sediment traps were used to collect fluxes of lipids from settling particles. This composition was compared with water volume samples and surface sediments.

本研究旨在提供西北陆架（从埃克斯茅斯陆架延伸至埃克斯茅斯高原）碳循环的初步信息。研究目标包括明确水柱中石油生物标志物（petroleum biomarkers）的空间分布特征，以及估算水柱和表层沉积物中有机质与烃类的合成及降解速率。

六个重复的沉积物捕获器阵列（sediment trap arrays）附着于钢丝系泊系统，每个捕获器下方均安装有S4海流计。这些阵列部署于研究区域内的多个站点。表层沉积物样本采用Smith-McIntyre抓斗采样器采集，岩心样本则通过Kasten岩心取样器获取。

研究利用分子脂质生物标志物（molecular lipid biomarkers）指示生源有机碳与石油的来源，并通过沉积物捕获器采集沉降颗粒物中的脂质通量。将该组成与水体体积样本及表层沉积物进行对比分析。