Seasonal variability of sediment oxygen demand and biogeochemistry on the Namibian inner shelf

The Central Benguela inner shelf is characterised by hypoxic to anoxic sub-thermocline water conditions on a semi-permanent basis. Historical understanding of the incidence of hypoxia is that the inner shelf area off Namibia is one of the main areas of formation of low oxygen water (LOW) in the Benguela upwelling system. Local biogeochemical remineralization of organic matter mostly related to the primary production in surface waters (Chapman and Shannon, 1985) is thought to drive seasonal variability in sediment oxygen demand. New understanding of the system suggests that shelf hypoxia is driven by a remotely forced equatorial hypoxic boundary condition thought to trigger anaerobic remineralization and increased sediment fluxes of reduced metabolites (Monteiro et al., in press). The study focused on seasonal variability of sediment oxygen demand on the Namibian inner shelf and its relation to particulate organic carbon and reduced metabolite fluxes.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Geological Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Joubert, Warren R

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Roychoudhury, Alakendra N
• Monteiro, Pedro M S

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4204

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/4204