http://eprints.utas.edu.au/3984/ An assessment of the use of sediment traps for estimating upper ocean particle fluxes Buessler, KO Sarin, M Steinberg, DK Trull, TW Antia, AN Chen, MJ Fowler, SW Gardner, WD Gustafsson, O Harada, K Michaels, AF Rutgers van der Loeff, M 260402 Chemical Oceanography This review provides an assessment of sediment trap accuracy issues by gathering data to address trap hydrodynamics, the problem of zooplankton “swimmers”, and the solubilization of material after collection. For each topic, the problem is identified, its magnitude and causes reviewed using selected examples, and an update on methods to correct for the potential bias or minimize the problem using new technologies is presented. To minimize hydrodynamic biases due to flow over the trap mouth, the use of neutrally buoyant sediment traps is encouraged. The influence of swimmers is best minimized using traps that limit zooplankton access to the sample collection chamber. New data on the impact of different swimmer removal protocols at the US time-series sites HOT and BATS are compared and shown to be important. Recent data on solubilization are compiled and assessed suggesting selective losses from sinking particles to the trap supernatant after collection, which may alter both fluxes and ratios of elements in long term and typically deeper trap deployments. Sears Foundation for Marine Research 2007 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf http://eprints.utas.edu.au/3984/1/3984.pdf http://jmr.publisher.ingentaconnect.com/content/jmr/jmr/2007/00000065/00000003/art00002 Buessler, KO and Sarin, M and Steinberg, DK and Trull, TW and Antia, AN and Chen, MJ and Fowler, SW and Gardner, WD and Gustafsson, O and Harada, K and Michaels, AF and Rutgers van der Loeff, M (2007) An assessment of the use of sediment traps for estimating upper ocean particle fluxes. Journal of Marine Research, 65 (3). pp. 345-416. ISSN 0022-2402 http://eprints.utas.edu.au/3984/http://eprints.utas.edu.au/3984/1/