Sediment trap (Kiel 21- trap, KUM) particle flux measurements, Gulf of Mexico, August 2010 to October 2011

Sedimentation rates at (28º 42.55N, 88º 25.34W) at about 1500m depth, 120 m above the seafloor between August 2010 and October 2011. A funnel shaped time series sediment trap (Kiel 21- trap, KUM) with a collection area of 0.5 m^2 was used to measure flux of particles about seven km SW of the Deepwater Horizon well in twenty 21-day intervals. Sinking material was fixed in-situ with mercuric chloride in a salinity gradient (40 PSU). After retrieving the trap, samples were examined microscopically (phytoplankton and foraminifera flux), analyzed for dry mass, inorganic matter, particulate organic and inorganic carbon (POC & PIC), organic nitrogen, biogenic silica, transparent exopolymer particles, barium, aluminum, and iron. Sample aliquots were processed by colleagues (Chanton, Yan) for stable isotopes (R4.x268.186:0003) and diverse oil markers (R4.x268.184:0006).