Abstract. Continental shelves are critical for the global carbon cycle, storing substantial amounts of organic (OC) over geological timescales. Shelf sediments can also be subject to considerable anthropogenic pressures, offshore construction and bottom trawling example, potentially releasing OC that has been sequestered into sediments. As a result, these have attracted attention from policy makers regarding how their management leveraged meet national emissions reductions targets. Spatial...

On continental shelf seas, the spatial and temporal interaction between hydrodynamic processes seabed substrate impacts evolution sediment distribution. For instance, when magnitude of bed shear stress, induced by waves and/or currents, is greater than threshold movement, mobilised, giving rise to a range dynamic bedforms intricate local regional transport systems. These have direct implications for wide offshore economic exploits (e.g., siting renewable energy telecommunication...

Seabed morphodynamics examines the processes that change seabed topography. It is a dynamic system of sediment being eroded, transported, and deposited over different spatial temporal scales. These dynamics have consequences for siting offshore engineering infrastructure such as renewable energy cables foundations, well changes in seafloor habitats. Therefore, understanding supports sustainable marine planning.Continental shelves can exhibit range geomorphological features are composed or...

Bottom trawling is a widespread fishing practice that has consistently been established to result in harmful, enduring effects including physical modification of the seafloor, and impacts on biogeochemical cycling as well benthic ecosystems. The mechanisms equipment used, such trawl doors, penetrate seafloor disturb sediment structure, resuspending particulate matter altering seafloor's organic composition morphology. Previous studies have assessed carbon storage marine sediments,...

Geological, biological, morphological, and hydrochemical data are presented for the newly discovered Moytirra vent field at 45 o N. This is only high temperature hydrothermal known between Azores Iceland, in North Atlantic located on a slow to ultraslow‐spreading mid‐ocean ridge uniquely situated 300 m fault scarp of eastern axial wall, 3.5 km from volcanic crest. Furthermore, is, unusually tectonically controlled vents systems, basalt hosted perched midway up median valley wall presumably...

The seabed of the Western Irish Sea Mud Belt (north Sea) comprises a thick sequence fine-grained Holocene marine sediments that overlay complex glacial deposits. preserves record environmental change in area. Part this area is earmarked for number offshore wind farm developments. poses geotechnical challenges to such developments, including soft silts and clays as well shallow gas. This paper characterises soil conditions context renewable energy development using various geophysical...

ABSTRACT A 1:1,000,000 map of the Irish Sea, within Economic Exclusion Zone, is presented highlighting spatial distribution potential geological and geotechnical constraints to offshore wind energy development. In this mapping exercise we incorporated existing multibeam echosounder bathymetric backscatter data collected by Integrated Mapping for Sustainable Development Ireland's Marine Resource programme. ArcGIS was used interrogate produce maps seabed morphological characteristics....

The seafloor is increasingly being used for siting renewable energy and telecommunication infrastructure as well supporting key fisheries biodiversity. Understanding seabed stability sediment dynamics is, therefore, a fundamental need offshore engineering geoscience biological studies. In this study we aim to quantify the levels of mobility in Irish Sea: an area increasing socio-economic interest subsequent pressures. temporal spatial interaction between bathymetry, hydrodynamics sediments...

Abstract The long-term sustainability of the offshore wind industry requires development appropriate investigative methods to enable less conservative and more cost-effective geotechnical engineering design. Here we describe novel use distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) as part an integrated approach for geophysical assessment shallow subsurface construction. DAS was used acquire active Scholte-wave seismic data at several locations in vicinity a planned windfarm near Dundalk Bay, Irish Sea....

Using extensive data sets from three separate areas in the German North Sea sector, consisting of seismic grids, cores and in‐situ cone penetration tests (CPT), we have established a revised stratigraphical framework for mid to late Quaternary deposits sector. This consists four regional unconformities 15 other local derived profiles. these unconformities, along with lithological geotechnical data, it was possible define correlate 14 major units 21 subunits within framework. The cover area...

The characterization of the seafloor is a fundamental first step in informing resource management, marine spatial planning, conservation, fisheries, industry and research. Integrated Mapping for Sustainable Development Ireland's Marine Resource (INFOMAR), national seabed mapping programme, delivers freely available, high-resolution imagery derived from multibeam echosounder data Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. European Union established Observation Data Network (EMODnet) Geology portal, which...

ABSTRACT The Wicklow Trough is one of several Irish Sea bathymetric deeps, yet unusually isolated from the main depression, Western Trough. Its formation has been described as proglacial or subglacial, linked to Ice Stream (ISIS) during Last Glacial Maximum. evolution and neighbouring therefore, help us understand ISIS dynamics, when it was ice stream draining former British–Irish Sheet. morphology sub‐seabed stratigraphy 18 km long 2 wide here new multibeam echosounder data, 60 sparker...

Abstract Shipwrecks are an integral part of our maritime archaeological landscape and associated with diverse societal cultural interests, yielding significant management challenges. Coupled hydrodynamic geomorphological processes significantly impact the effective in situ preservation these fragile sites. In this study, we assess sediment budget change triggers at metal‐hulled shipwrecks lost between 1875 1918, all located tidally dominated Irish Sea depths 26 84 m. This is conducted using...

The large number of historic metal-hulled shipwrecks on the seabed is a major consideration for marine environment, heritage management and spatial planning. Their stability driven by linked hydro- sediment-dynamics, which in turn influence chemical corrosion biological encrustation. dynamism at underwater sites frequently expressed elaborate patterns depositional erosional features developed due to scour. These settings are complex, variable morphologies wrecks, diverse types geology...

With the recent push for a transition towards climate-resilient economy, demand on marine resources is accelerating. For many economic exploits, comprehensive understanding of environmental parameters underpinning seabed morphodynamics in tidally-dominated shelf seas, and relationship between local regional scale sediment transport regimes as an entire system, imperative. In this paper, high-resolution, time-lapse bathymetry datasets, hydrodynamic numerical modelling outputs various...

Offshore sand banks are an important resource for coastal protection, marine aggregates, and benthic habitats the site of many offshore wind farms. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding baseline processes controlling bank morphodynamics is imperative. This knowledge will aid development long-term robust spatial plan help address environmental instability arising from anthropogenic activities. study uses validated, dynamically coupled, two-dimensional hydrodynamic sediment transport...

Globally, continental shelf environments, and the marine sediments therein, have been recognised as having significant roles to play in sequestration, cycling storage of. Recently, identified largest, but most uncertain, stock of carbon stored on shelf, citing a lack empirical data. Moreover, seabeds are coming under increased pressure through anthropogenic impacts, such offshore renewable energy development, trawling dredging, climate change effects. To fully understand, effectively manage...

Blue Carbon traditionally refers to carbon buried and stored in coastal or terrestrial environments such as mangrove forests seagrass meadows. However, marine sediments, like clays sands, found on continental shelves, are increasingly being recognised important settings included national management plans.  To fully understand the importance of its potential mitigate against climate change, a thorough understanding quantification is required. This performed through analysis sediment...

The recent “30 by 30” global initiative to protect 30% of the world’s land and ocean 2030 has increased need for marine spatial planning decisions be grounded in locally relevant empirical evidence. Continental shelves play a key role cycling carbon, where sediments can act as an important sink organic carbon (OC). As result, storing have attracted scientific attention elucidate amount OC stored mechanisms influencing its sequestration. Spatial models sediment...