Module 5: Sedimentation

Sediments come from many sources including runoff from land, chemical reactions, volcanic eruptions, the remains of organisms, and even outer space. Once they enter the ocean, sediments deposit on the ocean floor in many ways and in many locations. Most sediments created by runoff are found near the shelf, while other types are found in deeper parts of the ocean and were brought there by glaciers, turbidity currents, and organisms. In the deepest parts of the ocean, sediment becomes clay and different types of oozes.

Scientists use several different metrics to organize and classify marine sediments. The Wentworth scale uses the size of the sediment to determine its name. Ranging from the smallest clay sediments to large cobbles and boulders, the sediments are classified by name and then by several other factors. Oceanographers, geologists, and hydrologists use the Hjulstrom diagram to determine how a body of water will move a sediment based on its size and the velocity of the water current.

Under certain conditions, sediments provide the foundation for resources that are important to the economy and people's lives. Our use of these resources may depend on their availability. Natural resources like oil, natural gas, sand and gravel, mineral nodules, and evaporites are difficult to extract and provide risks to the environment; however, improving technology can make accessing these resources safer and easier.

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