Collection of sinking particulates

In this section we offer some practical guidelines for the operation of sediment traps, with emphasis on problems associated with construction of apparatus and the collection of trace inorganic and organic substances. A detailed description of handling and analysis of particulates with emphasis to trace elements is given in Section 12.6. 

General design objectives of ocean sediment traps are as follows (as modified from Honjo and Doherty, 1988)  

The Kiel Sediment Trap (Fig. 1-12) by Kremling et al. (1996) has a 0.5 m aperture, a funnel slope of 34° and is capable of collecting 20 samples at programmed intervals. This trap has been designed especially to sample for reliable analyses of both trace inorganic and 

Independent of trap design, there are other problems in determining accurate flux data. For example, resuspension or advective transport of bottom sediments may cause anomalously high results. Therefore, it is recommended for the deep ocean that traps should remain at least 1000 m above the sea floor. Another significant problem may be caused by zooplankton swimmers in the trapped sample, potentially disturbing the results of purely sedimenting material. This was observed especially in upper-ocean traps (e.g., Michaelis et al., 1990). 

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