There is a great deal of uncertainty as to the levels of stability of slope components of the European margin, other than localised detailed surveys completed using a combination of side-scan sonar and swathe bathymetry in recent years. These surveys have revealed that the factors which control the locations of areas of potential slope failure are complex and manifold. Clearly slope gradients, sediment supply, physical oceanographic conditions and sediment type all have major roles to play, but their interaction is far from well understood. One of the problems to be addressed is the lack of a comprehensive and focussed data synthesis with which to derive and test models of slope behaviour. A promising way in which this shortfall could be rectified would be to combine selected parts of the extensive survey database acquired by the telecommunications industry in its search for suitable pathways in which to lay earlier copper-core and now, more recently, fibre-optic cable systems. These data would be interpreted in conjunction with a rigorous analysis of the industry's historical cable-fault database which provides parameters of naturally occuring cable failures (through sediment failure, for example). Together these data will provide an understanding of the geological characteristics of key parts of the European shelf, underpinned with the statistics of active slope processes over the most recent decades. The benefits of such a synthesis to both the telecommunications and hydrocarbon industries cannot be overstated.

Cruise reports and interim reports

Through manufacturing, and geophysically characterising the properties and distribution of a range of synthetic gas hydrate morphologies in a range of sediments in the laboratory, protocols will be established for geophysically logging natural sediment-hydrate core preserved in pressure chambers on board ship. Based on pressure cycling, geophysical behaviour responses will be determined during the start of dissociation and formation. On this basis we then propose to develop protocols to characterise and classify hydrates sampled during ODP Leg 204, significantly improving our understanding of the nature and behaviour of these sediments. This new knowledge will enhance geophysical survey data, better constrain estimates of in-situ hydrates and improve the evaluation of hydrate destabilisation on methane release and slope stability.

There is a large deal of uncertainty as to the levels of stabilty of slope components of the European margin, other than localised detailed surveys completed using combination of sidescan sonar and swath bathymetry in recent years. Thesse surveys have revealed that the factors which control the locations of areas of potential slope failure are complex and manifold. Clearly slope gradients, sediment supply, physical oceanographic conditions and sediment type all have major roles to play, but their interaction is far from well understood. One of the problems to be addressed is the lack of a comprehenisve and focussed data synthesis with which to derive and test models of slope behaviour. A promising way in which this shortfall could be rectified would be to combine selected parts of the extensive survey database acquired by the telecommunications industry in it search for suitable pathways in which to lay earlier copper-core and now more recently, fibre-optic cable systems. These data would be interpreted in conjunction with a rigorous analysis of the industry's historical cable fault database which provides parameters of naturally occuring cable failures (through sediment failure, for example). Together these data will provide an understanidng of the geological characteristics of key parts of the European shelf, underpinned with the statistics of active slope processes over the most recent decades. The benefits of such a synthesis to both the telecommunications and hydrocarbon industries cannot be overstated.

here is a large deal of uncertainty as to the levels of stabilty of slope components of the European margin, other than localised detailed surveys completed using combination of sidescan sonar and swath bathymetry in recent years. Thesse surveys have revealed that the factors which control the locations of areas of potential slope failure are complex and manifold. Clearly slope gradients, sediment supply, physical oceanographic conditions and sediment type all have major roles to play, but their interaction is far from well understood. One of the problems to be addressed is the lack of a comprehenisve and focussed data synthesis with which to derive and test models of slope behaviour. A promising way in which this shortfall could be rectified would be to combine selected parts of the extensive survey database acquired by the telecommunications industry in it search for suitable pathways in which to lay earlier copper-core and now more recently, fibre-optic cable systems. These data would be interpreted in conjunction with a rigorous analysis of the industry's historical cable fault database which provides parameters of naturally occuring cable failures (through sediment failure, for example). Together these data will provide an understanidng of the geological characteristics of key parts of the European shelf, underpinned with the statistics of active slope processes over the most recent decades. The benefits of such a synthesis to both the telecommunications and hydrocarbon industries cannot be overstated.

31 OBS stations (without Nos. 3, 11, 16) and 8 land stations (6145, 6146, 6128, 6092, 6048, 6111, 6203, 6045)

16 OBS stations (without No. 10) and 9 land stations (6045, 6146, 6113, 6048, 6111, 6145, 6120, 6078, 6092)

Segmentation of South Atlantic Margins - GMT NetCDF grid files

No abstract information supplied with this object

Chemical composition of freshwater samples from sites in Northern England. Measurements of pH, dissolved major ions (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cl, NO3, SO4), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved Al, Fe(II) and total Fe, and measurements of Al, Fe(II) and total Fe on samples following dialysis.