(Table 1) Petrological description and consolidation properties of ODP Site 186-1150 and Hole 186-1151A

In order to determine the shear parameters of the forearc sedimentary strata drilled during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 186, West Pacific Seismic Network, Japan Trench, eight whole-round samples were selected from different depths in the drilled sections of Sites 1150 and 1151. Whereas Site 1150 lays above the seismically active part of the subduction zone, Site 1151 is situated in an aseismic zone. The aim of the triaxial tests was, apart from determination of the static stress strain behavior of the sediments, to test the hypothesis that the static stress strain parameter could differ for each sites. In order to simulate undrained deformation conditions according to the high clay mineral content of the strata, consolidated undrained shear tests were performed in a triaxial testing setup. Measurements of water content, grain density, organic content, and microtextural investigations under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) accompanied the compression experiments. After the saturation and consolidation stages were completed, failure occurred in the compression stage of the experiments at peak strengths of 280-7278 kPa. The stiffness moduli calculated for each sample from differential stress vs. strain curves show a linear relationship with depth and range between 181 and 5827 kPa. Under the SEM, the artificial fault planes of the tested specimen only show partial alignment of clay minerals because of the high content of microfossils.

(Tab. XIII.1) TOC content, carbonate content, carbonate mineralogy, percentage of total carbonate, aragonite, low magnesium calcium, and high magnesium calcium, and grain-size contents from samples from the Golfe d'Arguin and from the Western Sahara

Modern carbonate sedimentation takes place on the northern Mauritanian shelf (20°N), where typical tropical components (e.g. hermatypic reefs, calcareous green algae) are absent. Such deposits are reminiscent of extratropical sediment in the geological record. The tropical open shelf of Mauritania is influenced by large siliciclastic dust input and upwelling, highly fertilizing the ocean, as well as strongly limiting the light penetration. In this context, temperature does not appear to be the steering factor of carbonate production. This thesis describes the depositional system of the Golfe d'Arguin off Mauritania and focuses on environmental conditions that control the depositional pattern, in particular carbonate production. The description of this modern analogue provides a tool for paleoenvironmental interpretation of ancient counterparts. The Golfe d'Arguin is a broad shallow shelf comprising extensive shoals (<10 m water depth; i.e. the Banc d'Arguin) on the inner shelf where waters warm up. The sediments collected in water depths between 4 and 600 m are characterized by mixed carbonate and siliciclastic (dust) deposits. They vary from clean coarse-grained, almost pure carbonate loose sediments to siliciclastic-dominated fine-grained sediments. The carbonate content and sediment grain size show a north-south decreasing pattern through the Golfe d'Arguin and are controlled by the hydraulic regime influenced by wind-driven surface currents, swell, and tidal currents. The carbonate grain association is heterozoan. Components include abundant molluscs, foraminifers, and worm tubes, as well as barnacles and echinoderms, elements that are also abundant in extratropical sediments. The spatial distribution of the sedimentary facies of the Golfe d'Arguin does not display a depth zonation but rather a mosaic (i.e. patchy distribution). The depth and climatic signatures of the different sedimentary facies are determined by taxonomic and ecological investigations of the carbonate-secreting biota (molluscs and foraminifers). While certain planktonic foraminifers and molluscs represent upwelling elements, other components (e.g. mollusc and benthic foraminifer taxa) demonstrate the tropical origin of the sediment. The nutrient-rich (and thus also low light-penetration) conditions are reflected in the fact that symbiotic and photosynthetic carbonate-producing organisms (e.g. hermatypic corals) are absent. The Mauritanian deposits represent an environment that is rare in the modern world but might have been more common in the geological past when global temperatures were higher. Taxonomic and ecological studies allow for distinguishing carbonate sediments formed under either tropical high-nutrient or extratropical conditions, thus improving paleoclimate reconstruction.

(Table 1) Age and depth of reflectors of the 3.5-kHz and airgun seismic record and their corresponding depth of ash layers, carbonate peaks, and transition zones from DSDP Hole 83-504B

DSDP cores from areas of low (Site 505) and high heat flow (Site 504 B) near the Costa Rica Rift, together with seismic profiles from the Panama Basin, have been studied to determine the relationship between: (1) carbonate content and physical and acoustic properties; and (2) carbonate content, carbonate diagenesis and acoustic stratigraphy. Except for ash and chert layers, bulk density correlates strongly and linearly with carbonate content. Velocity is uniform downcore and only small variations at a small scale are measured. Thus an abrupt change in carbonate content will cause abrupt changes in acoustic impedance and should cause reflectors that can be detected acoustically. A comparison of seismic profiler reflection records with physical properties, carbonate content and reflection coefficients indicates that the main reflectors can be identified with ash layers, diagenetic boundaries, and carbonate content variations. Diagenesis of carbonate sediments is present at Site 504B in a 260 m-thick ooze-chalk-limestone/chert sequence. These diagenetic sequences occur in areas of higher heat flow (200 mW/m**2). Seismic profiler records can be used to map the extent and depth of these diagenetic boundaries.

(Table 2) Fauna Harpacticoida and its distribution in the Kandalaksha Bay (White Sea) in July 1998 and 1999

Dependence of the faunal composition and species structure of the White Sea littoral Harpacticoida on sediment properties was studied. Three groups of species could be distinguished according to their relationship with sediment properties: (1) species typical of silty sediments, (2) species preferring sediments with high gravel content, and (3) species inhabiting well-sorted washed sands. Vertical distribution of crustaceans within sediments of different types was studied. Vertical migrations of harpacticoids (3) during the tidal cycle were described. Data on interannual variability of harpacticoid fauna are presented.

Description of recent sediments of Nile Delta, Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (Table 1-3)

The study of textural, structural, chemical, and physical properties of fine-grained recent marine sediments leads to the conclusion that only a few compositional factors are responsible for significant changes in mass physical characteristics in the upper meters below sea bottom. Fossil-induced porosity increases water content and liquid limit. It also seems to have partially influenced the plastic limit and plasticity index of calcareous sandy silts from the Red Sea and the western Gulf of Aden so that they become similar to the montmorillonite rich prodelta clays from the Nile Delta. Diagrams based on liquid limit and plasticity loose their original meaning in these cases. Activity of sediments rich in microorganisms can be higher than that of montmorillonitic clay. The shear strength-depth relationship of normally consolidated sediments is surprisingly little influenced by changes in sand or clay content and clay mineralogy. Only high lime content, submarine erosion and beginning cementation increase the strength considerably. Erosional disconformities near the present surface can be deduced from the strength-depth curve when as little as 1 or 2 m sediment have been removed. Flat or irregular strength-depth curves indicate beginning cementation and probably discontinuous sedimentation, provided the composition of the material remains in some degree constant. In our samples diagenetic pyrite, but no recristallisation of carbonates could be detected under the microscope. Underconsolidation and excess pore-water pressure, factors which tend to foster submarine slides, mud lumps, and diapiric folding, seem to be restricted Varito areas with mainly rapidly deposited, homogeneous or layered sediments. But where an abundance of burrowing organisms increases the vertical permeability of the sediment, normal consolidation and stable deposits are to be expected, at least in the upper meters below the present surface. According to 14C-determinations on calcareous microorganisms the rate of deposition of the investigated sediments seems to range from 26 to 167 cm per 1000 years.

Clay and smectite content in sediment core CRP-3

The Cenozoic sediments of the CRP-3 drill core from the continental shelf of McMurdo Sound in Ross Sea, Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean, have been investigated for their clay mineral assemblages, especially for the smectite abundances, concentrations and crystallinities. The assemblages of CRP-3 are very different from those of the CRP-1 and CRP-2/2A drill cores. Thus, an almost monomineralic assemblage characterizes the sequence below 330 mbsf. This assemblage is made of well-crystallized smectite with probably authigenic origin between 800 mbsf and 625 mbsf. From 625 mbsf to 330 mbsf the assemblage consists of moderately crystallized smectite that, at least in part, seems to be of detrital origin and thus indicates weathering under a relatively warm and wet climate. In the interval 330-145 mbsf, smectite concentrations fluctuate between 50% and 100% and probably document alternating phases of chemical weathering under a warm and wet climate and physical weathering under a relatively cool and dry climate. Above 145 mbsf the smectite decreases dramatically to concentrations of about 20% and becomes poorly crystalline. In contrast, illite and chlorite become more abundant. Such an assemblage is typical for early Oligocene and younger sediments in McMurdo Sound and reflects physical weathering conditions under a cool climate on a glaciated Antarctic continent. Correlations of the changes in the clay mineral spectrum of CRP-3 with other cores from McMurdo Sound and from other parts of the Southern Ocean has to remain speculative at this stage, because of the poor age control.

(Table A1) Calcium carbonate content of boreholes Kirchrode I and II

The technical details of drilling and coring at the Kirchrode I and II sites are presented. At these sites, a sequence of claystones and marlstones from an Albian shelf basin was recovered. Constraints on the ages of the sediments in the two boreholes are provided by the occurrence of the inoceramid bivalve Actinoceramus sulcatus, the first appearance of which is used to define the Middle/Upper Albian boundary and by observed facies changes that can be correlated to the established lithostratigraphy. The cores from the two boreholes provide a rather complete, 285-m-long sequence of the Upper Albian, with a 155.5-m-long overlap. Analysis of the tectonic structures showed considerable shortening in the Middle and Lower Albian part of the sequence due to normal faulting. Of the Upper Albian, only the lowermost part is affected by faults. The increase in sedimentation rates of terrigenous detritus and of marine biogenic carbonate, which occurs in the basal part of the C. auritus Subzone, is interpreted to reflect a regional change to a more humid climate and regional tectonic movements (uplift of the Rhenish Bohemian massif, subsidence of the Lower Saxony basin intensified locally by halokinetic movements). The further increase in marine productivity in the latest Albian may be related to upwelling of more nutrient-rich deep water along submarine relief in this shelf sea. Identification of Milankovitch cyclicity documented by the fluctuating CaCO3 contents of the sediments is used (i) to constrain the minimum time represented by the Upper Albian deposits, and (ii) to determine the duration of the sea level cycles (Cycle V: >=1.6 Ma, Cycle VI: >=2 Ma), and (iii) to establish the duration of the Late Albian ammonite subzones (e.g. Callihoplites auritus Subzone: 2.1 Ma). Average sedimentation rates determined from the identified 100-ka eccentricity cycles show a stepwise increase in sedimentation rates from 1-2 cm/1000 a in the Lower Albian dark claystones to 7-13 cm/1000 a in the late Late Albian. In addition to the general deepening trend through the Late Albian, two, nearly completely documented 3rd-order sea-level cycles in the Upper Albian of Kirchrode I were recognised, plus another one, cut short by faulting, at the base of the Upper Albian (documented in Kirchrode II). These global sea-level cycles were identified on the basis (a) of the sequence of the abundance maxima of selected benthos and plankton groups, (b) of trends in the fluctuations of the CaCO3 content, and (c) of the abundance of glauconite. The transgression periods in this Upper Albian deep shelf-basin are characterised by intensified circulation. This intensified circulation is found to have affected first the surface-near waters, resulting e.g. in an increase in the abundance of immigrant plankton and nekton species from the Tethys. At a later stage the deep water was affected, supporting then an increased population of suspension-feeding benthos, and causing condensation and erosion in the sediment at the sea floor.

Data compilation on the biological response to ocean acidification: environmental and experimental context of data sets and related literature

The exponential growth of studies on the biological response to ocean acidification over the last few decades has generated a large amount of data. To facilitate data comparison, a data compilation hosted at the data publisher PANGAEA was initiated in 2008 and is updated on a regular basis (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.149999). By January 2015, a total of 581 data sets (over 4 000 000 data points) from 539 papers had been archived. Here we present the developments of this data compilation five years since its first description by Nisumaa et al. (2010). Most of study sites from which data archived are still in the Northern Hemisphere and the number of archived data from studies from the Southern Hemisphere and polar oceans are still relatively low. Data from 60 studies that investigated the response of a mix of organisms or natural communities were all added after 2010, indicating a welcomed shift from the study of individual organisms to communities and ecosystems. The initial imbalance of considerably more data archived on calcification and primary production than on other processes has improved. There is also a clear tendency towards more data archived from multifactorial studies after 2010. For easier and more effective access to ocean acidification data, the ocean acidification community is strongly encouraged to contribute to the data archiving effort, and help develop standard vocabularies describing the variables and define best practices for archiving ocean acidification data.