IMIS

During 5 cruises to the Porcupine Basin, the Rockall Basin, and the Trøms District off Norway, mapping of the mound arrangements (towed cameras, side scan sonar and seismic equipment) and measurements of the physical, chemical and oceanographic parameters will be carried out (moored current meters, sediment traps, CTD, newly developed lender systems). We want to assess the microbiological potential of the seabed and sub-seabed biosphere on and in such mounds and to unravel the role of bacteria in carbonate mud generation and fixation by applying state of the art geomicrobiological methods new methods. The important role of carbonate producing benthic invertebrates as biogenic source for carbonate and as environment recorders will be studied. The quantitative measurement of the relationship of these biogenic mounds to the surrounding drift sedimentary settings will allow a description and quantification of the role of these carbonate mounds in terms of the CO2 budget: sinks versus source.