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 sediments

Six 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.