caa a22 4500 463216385 CHVBK 20180405153157.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170326e20070601xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s00367-007-0079-x doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s00367-007-0079-x Extensive methane-derived authigenic carbonates in the Irish Sea [Elektronische Daten] [Alan Judd, Peter Croker, Louise Tizzard, Carolyn Voisey] Extensive areas of methane-derived authigenic carbonate (MDAC) have been mapped in the Irish Sea. In the Irish Sector, 23 seabed mounds associated with the Codling Fault Zone were identified by multi-beam echo sounder mapping. Inspection by ROV-mounted video showed that these mounds are rocky features rising 5-10m above the normal seabed; sampling showed that they are comprised of quartz grains bound together by carbonate cement, probably MDAC. Two separate locations have been mapped in the UK Sector. At Texel 11, seabed mounds and a 6-8m high cliff were mapped geophysically (MBES, SSS and seismic profiler surveys). Video surveys showed that both the mounds and the cliff are rocky reefs colonised by a prolific fauna. Samples proved to be carbonate-cemented sediments, and carbon isotope analysis (δ13C −41 to −46% PDB) showed that the cement was MDAC. Similar surveys of the Holden's Reefs area proved the presence of similar rocky reefs which are also cemented by MDAC. The total area covered by these two MDAC occurrences is estimated to be >500,000m2. These MDAC occurrences are comparable in nature and formation to the ‘bubbling reefs' of the Kattegat. As the bubbling reefs are "seabed features formed by leaking gas”, one of the marine habitats identified by the European Commission's Habitats Directive as being sensitive and worthy of protection, it is suggested that the Irish Sea carbonate reefs should also be considered as special habitats. Springer-Verlag, 2007 Judd Alan Alan Judd Partnership, High Mickley, NE43 7LU, Northumberland, UK aut Croker Peter Petroleum Affairs Division, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dublin 4, Ireland aut Tizzard Louise Ocean Research Group, School of Marine Science and Technology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK aut Voisey Carolyn Consultant, Troon, KA10 6HR, Ayrshire, UK aut Geo-Marine Letters Springer-Verlag 27/2-4(2007-06-01), 259-267 0276-0460 27:2-4<259 2007 27 367 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-007-0079-x text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-007-0079-x text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Judd Alan Alan Judd Partnership, High Mickley, NE43 7LU, Northumberland, UK aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Croker Peter Petroleum Affairs Division, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dublin 4, Ireland aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Tizzard Louise Ocean Research Group, School of Marine Science and Technology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Voisey Carolyn Consultant, Troon, KA10 6HR, Ayrshire, UK aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Geo-Marine Letters Springer-Verlag 27/2-4(2007-06-01), 259-267 0276-0460 27:2-4<259 2007 27 367 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer