ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1889-1468
Current Organisations
Marine Scotland
,
University of St Andrews
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Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 04-03-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FEART.2021.593324
Abstract: Continental shelf sediments are recognized as long-term stores of globally significant quantities of carbon (C) and potentially provide an important, yet largely overlooked climate regulation service via the Earth’s C cycle. Current understanding of the spatial distribution of sedimentary C across continental shelves remains poor, inhibiting the targeted management and potential inclusion of these globally significant C stores into national C budgets. Further understanding of the spatial heterogeneity of continental shelf sediments and associated C provides a foundation to quantify the organic carbon (OC) stock and better understand the role that marine sediments play in regulating the global climate and the potential for CO 2 to be released through anthropogenic disturbance of these C stores. Utilizing a spectrum of available marine data, we have created bespoke sediment maps that quantify the surficial (top 10 cm) OC stock and highlight significant spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of sediments and their associated C content across the United Kingdom’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The surficial sediments within the UK EEZ are estimated to store 524 ± 68 Mt of organic carbon (OC) and 2,582 ± 168 Mt of inorganic carbon (IC). The spatial mapping of this C highlights well-defined OC accumulation hotspots in fjords, estuaries and coastal muds, while large accumulations of IC are found in the tidally swept areas around Orkney, Shetland and the South West of England. Within the well-defined OC hotspots, muddy sediments store the greatest quantity of OC the muds offer potentially valuable opportunities for targeted future management and protection of sedimentary C stores within the UK EEZ. In the future, if areas of the seafloor were to be managed to include the protection of these valuable sedimentary C resources, we recommend an initial focus on hotspots of high sedimentary OC density.
Publisher: CRC Press
Date: 25-11-2016
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 04-08-2022
DOI: 10.3389/FMARS.2022.892892
Abstract: It is estimated that within the UK exclusive economic zone (UK EEZ), 524 Mt of organic carbon (OC) is stored within seabed sediment. However, the stability and potential vulnerability of OC in these sediments under anthropogenic stressors, such as bottom trawling activity, remains poorly quantified. To improve our understanding of the areas where sedimentary OC is likely to be at greatest risk from trawling events, we have developed a carbon vulnerability ranking (CVR) to identify areas of the seabed where preventative protection may be most beneficial to help maintain current OC stocks while further research continues to shed light on the fate of OC after trawling (e.g., remineralization, transport, and consumption). Predictive maps of currently available fishing intensity, OC and sediment distribution, and sediment OC lability have been generated within ArcGIS using fuzzy set theory. Our results show that the west coast of Scotland represents one of the key areas where sedimentary OC is potentially at greatest risk from bottom trawling activity. This is due mainly to the high reactivity of these OC rich sediments combined with the pressures of repetitive trawling activity within inshore waters. Our research shows that these OC hotspots are potentially at risk of disturbance from bottom trawling activity and should be prioritized for the consideration of future safeguarding (management) measures to ensure emissions are minimized and to provide greater protection of this natural carbon capital resource.
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 06-2008
DOI: 10.1029/2008GL033459
Publisher: Marine Scotland Science
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.7489/12267-1
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for William Turrell.