Sedimentation and the distribution of organic matter in a sub-Antarctic marine bay

The annual rate of sediment accumulation and the proportion due to resuspension in a sheltered sub-Antarctic bay has been deduced from sediment trap experiments and vertical profiles of organic matter in the sea bed. A dry weight sediment accumulation of 2·8 × 103 gm−2year−1 is suggested with an organic input of 60 g carbon m−2year−1. Seasonal variations in sedimentation are associated with winds and land runoff. Residual organic matter in deep sediment profiles reflect the recent history of pollution in the area and provides a means of dating the sediments.