Coughlan, M,Wheeler, AJ,Dorschel, B,Lordan, C,Boer, W,van Gaever, P,de Haas, H,Morz, T

2015

March

Anthropocene

Record of anthropogenic impact on the Western Irish Sea mud belt

Validated

Altmetric: 1 ()

Irish Sea Anthropocene Mud belt Trawling Radionuclides Bioturbation LONG-TERM ACCUMULATION RATES RECENT SEDIMENTATION ORGANIC-CARBON FISHING GEAR SHELF SEA NORTH-SEA DISTURBANCE PLUTONIUM TRANSPORT

9

56

69

Six cores, geophysical data (multibeam bathymetry), surface grab samples and video photography were collected from the area of the Western Irish Sea Mud Belt (WISMB). These data were analysed to determine the radionuclide input from the Sellafield nuclear facility on the eastern (UK) seaboard of the Irish Sea, and subsequently to assess the influence of bottom trawling and bioturbation on the surface and near-surface sediments. Results show significant changes in the sedimentation and geochemical regime in the WISMB due to anthropogenic causes (bottom trawling and radionuclides derived from the power plant). These changes are consistent with the concept of the Anthropocene time period. Levels of anthropogenic radionuclides measured in two of the cores enabled construction of a chronology correlated with recorded values of discharge from the Sellafield facility. Excess Pb-210 and the anthropogenic radionuclide Cs-137 proved useful as stratigraphic marker tools. These radionuclide data also enabled quantification of the effects of trawling, which was visible on acoustic seabed maps. Bottom trawling has removed an estimated 20-50 cm of the upper seabed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

10.1016/j.ancene.2015.06.001