Sediment Data for Carnarvon Shelf

Geoscience Australia carried out a marine survey on Carnarvon shelf (WA) in 2008 (SOL4769) to map seabed bathymetry and characterise benthic environments through co-located sampling of surface sediments and infauna, observation of benthic habitats using underwater towed video and stills photography, and measurement of ocean tides and wave-generated currents. Data and samples were acquired using the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) Research Vessel Solander. Bathymetric mapping, sampling and video transects were completed in three survey areas that extended seaward from Ningaloo Reef to the shelf edge, including: Mandu Creek (80 sq km); Point Cloates (281 sq km), and; Gnaraloo (321 sq km). Additional bathymetric mapping (but no sampling or video) was completed between Mandu creek and Point Cloates, covering 277 sq km and north of Mandu Creek, covering 79 sq km. Two oceanographic moorings were deployed in the Point Cloates survey area. The survey also mapped and sampled an area to the northeast of the Muiron Islands covering 52 sq km.

Seabed sediment samples were collected by a Smith McIntyre grab at a total of 275 locations, divided between Mandu Creek (n=81), Point Cloates (n=92), Gnaraloo (n=92) and Muiron Islands (n=10). The full sample set represents 102 sampling stations at which two sediment grabs were collected in close proximity. The exception to this was at Mandu Creek where three grabs were collected at 19 stations and at Gnaraloo where single grabs were taken at three stations. At Muiron Islands, single grabs were collected at five stations and two grabs at three stations (see Brooke et al. 2009).

2008年，澳大利亚地球科学局（Geoscience Australia）在西澳大利亚州（WA）卡那封陆架开展了编号为SOL4769的海洋调查，旨在通过表层沉积物与底内生物的同步采样、水下拖曳视频及静态摄影观测底栖生境、测量海洋潮汐与浪生流，完成海底地形测深制图并刻画底栖环境特征。本次调查依托澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（Australian Institute of Marine Science, AIMS）的“索兰德号”调查船完成数据采集与样品获取工作。

调查共设置3个核心调查区域，范围从宁格罗礁向陆架边缘向海延伸，分别为曼杜溪（80平方千米）、克洛角（281平方千米）与纳拉鲁（321平方千米），上述区域均完成了测深制图、沉积物采样与视频断面观测。此外在曼杜溪与克洛角之间（覆盖277平方千米）及曼杜溪以北区域（覆盖79平方千米）开展了额外的测深制图工作，未涉及沉积物采样与视频观测。克洛角调查区内还部署了2套海洋学术锚系设备。本次调查还对缪伊隆群岛东北侧52平方千米的海域完成了制图与沉积物采样工作。

海底沉积物样品通过Smith-McIntyre采泥器（Smith McIntyre grab）采集，共计275个采样站位，其中曼杜溪区域81个、克洛角区域92个、纳拉鲁区域92个、缪伊隆群岛区域10个。全部有效采样数据集包含102个采样站，每个站位采集2份近距离布设的沉积物泥样。存在两处例外情况：曼杜溪区域有19个站位各采集3份泥样，纳拉鲁区域有3个站位仅采集1份泥样；缪伊隆群岛区域则有5个站位各采集1份泥样、3个站位各采集2份泥样（详见Brooke等，2009）。