Correlations Among Carbonate Content, Accumulation Rate and Topography of Seabed

Abstract

Calcium carbonate may precipitate with an almost constant rate on the seabed. Therefore, it can be concluded that the calcium carbonate content of the sediments is governed by the accumulation rate of solids other than carbonate. The ultimate objective of this study was to consider the sedimentary environment for the calcium carbonate content in terms of the accumulation of solids and submarine topography. In order to ensure that the present sedimentary environment was related to the calcium carbonate content of the bottom sediments, a correlation between calcium carbonate content and bottom topography is discussed. In addition, the accumulation rate of sediments is discussed in terms of calcium carbonate content. In Osaka Bay, the sedimentary characteristics seem to be simple. The greater the water depth and the larger the distance from the shoreline, the calcium carbonate content becomes higher. Assuming a constant precipitation rate of calcium carbonate, the result obtained shows that the accumulation rate of sediments is higher near shorelines. The reason for this is that more sediments accumulate near and around river mouths and shorelines. In Sagami Bay and Suruga Bay, the sedimentation characteristics depend on the complex topography. The erosion of the continental slope may cause the transportation of sediments from the original location of deposition to another. This results in a tongue-shaped distribution of the lower carbonate content in the Sagami Trough. In the western part of Suruga Bay, it was found that from the distribution of calcium carbonate content, Senoumi banks play an important role as a barrier for sediments and suspended solids from being transmitted.