Journal article
Hudson submarine canyon head offshore New York and New Jersey: A physical and geochemical investigation
Deep-sea research. Part II, Topical studies in oceanography, v 121, pp 213-232
01 Nov 2015
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Hudson Canyon is the largest shelf-sourced canyon system off the east coast of the United States, and hosts a productive ecosystem that supports key fisheries. Here we report the results of a multi-year interdisciplinary study of the geological, geochemical, and physical oceanographic features and processes in the canyon that underpin that ecosystem. High-resolution multi-beam bathymetric and backscatter data show that the contrasting morphology of the two perpendicularly oriented branches at the head of the Hudson Canyon is indicative of different states of geomorphological activity and sediment transport Tightly spaced ridges and gullies extend perpendicularly towards the canyon axis from the canyon walls. Numerous depressions are found at the base of the canyon walls or along the canyon axis at depths from 300 m to 600 m. Elevated concentrations of dissolved methane in the water column, where the highest density of depressions occur, suggests that methane is actively venting there. The topography and reflective floors of circular depressions in canyon walls and their association with methane maxima suggest that these represent active methane gas release-collapse pockmarks with carbonate floors. Patterns of irregular, low-relief, reflective depressions on the canyon floor may also represent methane release points, either as gas release or cold-seep features. The presence of methane maxima in a region of strong advective currents suggests continuous and substantial methane supply. Hydrographic observations in the canyon show that multiple layers of distinct inter-leaved shelf (cold, fresh) and slope (warm, salty) water masses occupy the head of the canyon during the summer. Their interactions with the canyon and with each other produce shifting fronts, internal waves, and strong currents that are influenced by canyon topography. Strong tidal currents with along-canyon-axis flow shear help to drive the advection, dispersion and mixing of dissolved materials in the water column that likely help support the rich canyon ecosystem. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Details
- Title
- Hudson submarine canyon head offshore New York and New Jersey: A physical and geochemical investigation
- Creators
- Peter Rona - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyVincent Guida - NOAA NE Fisheries Science Center, J.J. Howard Laboratory, 74 Magruder Road, Highlands, NJ 07732, United StatesMary Scranton - Stony Brook UniversityDonglai Gong - Virginia Institute of Marine ScienceLeonardo Macelloni - University of MississippiMartina Pierdomenico - Sapienza University of RomeArne-R. Diercks - University of Southern MississippiVernon Asper - University of Southern MississippiScott Haag - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Deep-sea research. Part II, Topical studies in oceanography, v 121, pp 213-232
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 20
- Grant note
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center 600407 / European Union under FP7 RIT-MARE Flagship NOM Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Undersea Research Program (NURP) Marie Curie Fellowship; European Commission
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Computer Science
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000365379500020
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84946399720
- Other Identifier
- 991019167930504721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Oceanography