Decadal variability in the composition of Faroe Shetland Channel bottom water

Turrell, W.R.; Slesser, G.; Adams, R. D.; Payne, R.; Gillibrand, Phil

doi:10.1016/s0967-0637(98)00067-3

Cited by 151 publications

(134 citation statements)

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“…1). It has a complex hydrographic regime, with warm North Atlantic waters overlying the cold water flowing from the Norwegian Sea (Turrell et al 1999, Bett 2001. At 600 m depth, the Laggan oil field ( Fig.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of deep-water megafaunal assemblages from hydrocarbon drilling disturbance in the Faroe−Shetland Channel

Jones¹,

Gates²,

Lausen³

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Recovery of megabenthic assemblages from physical disturbance at the Laggan deep-water hydrocarbon drilling site in the Faroe−Shetland Channel was assessed using remotely operated vehicle quantitative video survey. Twelve undisturbed control sites and 2 well sites (A and C, disturbed 3 and 10 yr prior to this work, respectively) were analysed and compared with a previous survey immediately following disturbance at A. The megabenthic epifauna at Laggan was dominated by sponges (69.6% total fauna) represented by 20 taxa. Cnidarians (12.8%; 9 taxa) and echinoderms (7.1%; 11 taxa) were also common. Diversity was generally high and typical for the cold waters of the Faroe−Shetland Channel. Two distinct assemblages were found: one in the deeper area of the study site (also incorporating Site C), and one in the other areas (incorporating Site A). Motile faunal densities and richness were significantly elevated immediately after drilling in an area with intermediate disturbance, presumably attracted to available carcasses of organisms killed by drilling disturbance. After 3 and 10 yr, densities of motile organisms were less variable with distance, except very close to drilling where densities and richness were still reduced. Sessile faunal densities and richness increased significantly with increasing distance from drilling in all years, although both metrics were significantly higher close to drilling after 3 and 10 yr when compared to immediately after drilling. These data suggest partial megabenthic recovery between 3 and 10 yr post-disturbance. Despite this, in the area remaining completely covered by drill cuttings there were few megafauna observed even after 10 yr.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of deep-water megafaunal assemblages from hydrocarbon drilling disturbance in the Faroe−Shetland Channel

Jones¹,

Gates²,

Lausen³

2012

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…The Faroe^Shetland Channel (FSC) site is located to the north-west of Shetland (61855'N 02848'W). This is an essentially pristine, deep-water site (1600 m) characterized by bottom water temperatures typically less than 70.58C (70.5 to 71.08C; Turrell et al, 1999). The sediment environment at both sites consists essentially of coarse silt with a relatively high percentage of ¢nes (480%).…”

Section: Description Of the Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for benthic body size miniaturization in the deep sea

Kaariainen

Bett

2006

J. Mar. Biol. Ass.

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The benthic body size miniaturization hypothesis states that deep-sea communities are dominated by organisms of smaller body size, although some ¢eld studies have produced contradictory results. Using appropriate sample sets, this study tests this hypothesis by contrasting the benthic communities of the Fladen Ground (North Sea, 150 m) and the Faroe^Shetland Channel (1600 m). Samples were collected for large (500 mm) and small macrofauna (250^355 mm), meiofauna (45 mm) as well as an intermediate sized 'mesofauna' (180 mm) to ensure comprehensive coverage of the full meio-and macro-faunal body size-range. The body size structure of the benthos was compared using two methods. The more widely used average individual biomass method involves dividing the total sample biomass by sample abundance. Additionally, body size accumulation curves were constructed by assigning all specimens into a logarithmic size-class and then plotting the cumulative percentage of individuals present in each size-class. The results seem to support the hypothesis that the deep-sea environment is a small organism habitat. Although these ¢ndings only represent two locations, the overall body size accumulation curves clearly display a statistically signi¢cant shift towards smaller body sizes at the deeper site. The magnitude of the e¡ect is appreciable with median metazoan body size reducing from 14.3 mg wet weight in the Fladen Ground to 3.8 mg wet weight in the Faroe^Shetland Channel. The average individual biomass measurements are shown to be of limited value and can lead to potentially misleading conclusions if the underlying sizestructure is not analysed in detail.

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“…The NF section crosses the northern part of the FSC while the FIM section is located to the south. Data from those sections have been widely published [e.g., Turrell et al, 1999] and shall not be discussed here in detail. Temperature data from both sections during occupations in May, October, and December 2004-2006 were used to estimate the mean across-channel buoyancy frequency and averaged over each of the months of the occupation periods (blue profiles in Figure 3a).…”

Section: The Model Spin-up and Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The deep circulation of the Faroe‐Shetland Channel: Opposing flows and topographic eddies

Broadbridge

Toumi

2015

JGR Oceans

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New insights into the deep circulation of the Faroe‐Shetland channel are gained from a high‐resolution regional ocean model. The simulation shows a more complex structure of the deep flow field than previously thought: a flow reversal of the deep and intermediate waters to the northeast on the Faroese flank of the channel and persistent topographic eddies that force the deep currents into a gyre‐like structure. This flow reversal opposes the previously accepted understanding of a purely southwestward deep flow but is in agreement with velocity measurements. The southwestward transport of the overflow waters is found to be facilitated almost exclusively by a strong and narrow current on the Shetland side of the channel. Float release experiments show that up to 38% of the overflow water takes longer than a purely southwestward flow regime suggests and up to 13% takes twice as long. From the release of tracers, a substantial amount of lateral mixing is evident within the channel, predominantly facilitated by the topographic eddies.

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Decadal variability in the composition of Faroe Shetland Channel bottom water

Cited by 151 publications

References 0 publications

Recovery of deep-water megafaunal assemblages from hydrocarbon drilling disturbance in the Faroe−Shetland Channel

Recovery of deep-water megafaunal assemblages from hydrocarbon drilling disturbance in the Faroe−Shetland Channel

Evidence for benthic body size miniaturization in the deep sea

The deep circulation of the Faroe‐Shetland Channel: Opposing flows and topographic eddies

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