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The Adriatic Seabed
University of Colorado at Boulder
Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research  

Funded by INSTAAR, The Office of Naval Research
and EuroSTRATAFORM

Chris Jenkins1, Fabio Trincardi2, Lyle Hatchett3, Alan Niedoroda3,
John Goff4, Richard Signell5, Ken McKinney6

1. INSTAAR, University of Colorado, Colorado 80309-0450 USA; 2. Istituto per la Geologia Marina (CNR), 40129 Bologna, Italy;
3. URS Corp, Tallahassee, Florida 32303 USA; 4. University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG), Austin, TX 78759-8397 USA;
5. NATO Undersea Research Centre (SACLANT), La Spezia, Italy 19138.
6. Department of Geology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608-2067, USA.

Technical outline
The Adriatic Sea is a focus of  research into the distribution of seafloor sediments, within the EuroSTRATAFORM , PROMESS1, EURODELTA and PALICLAS programs and many other local, national and international efforts.

Using samplings and experiments that have been made over many years (see references below) and the database structure of dbSEABED, we have built a new mapping of the bottom sediment distribution in this important semi-enclosed Mediterranean marine basin. The new mapping is based on more than 28 different datasets and over 3000 described sites. It is compiled using GIS (Geographic Information System) methods and some novel data-integrating technologies in dbSEABED.

The data are diverse. Concentrated modern surveys of inshore areas hold detailed numerical data on grainsizes, combined with accurate GPS navigation. Older published works often present a few locations at km-accuracy, and descriptive information about the seabed. There are also a number of important (spatially extensive) datasets which have been recovered by: (i) digitizing station locations as plotted on published maps, (ii) assigning the sediment class of the enclosing map polygon. In digitizing, a RMS accuracy on georegistration was recorded, the basis of accuracy assessments. The integration of these data types is justified by the fact that in seabed mapping the greatest uncertainty is due to distance between sites; the lower accuracy data still plays an important role in the suppression of map uncertainties.

This set of mappings is an initial one. We are certain that it contains only a small proportion of the total available data. Some of the present data may be edited, decommissioned depending on feedback. Also, methods of generating the griddings are under investigation. 
 

Prototype 3D VRML fly-through terrain 

(Note: may be too large in memory and graphic requirements for some machines.)

Best to view it with Cortona browser plugin 
Processed point data:

The dataset ADR_ONE represents the main mappable form of output from dbSEABED (AboutTheFormat).

Excel(Zipped)    ShapefileSet(Zipped)   JPEGImage

The dataset ADR_WWD is the same data and format but with ETOPO2 water depths assigned where no other water depth is available.

Excel(Zipped)    ShapefileSet(Zipped)

The null data values are -99 (numeric) and "-" (string). Because these files will be updated, ask before using this data in publications or operations.
Gridded data:
Grainsize(Phi)
Image		FolkCodes()
Image		RGSM()
Image		Rock(% Exposed)
Image
Sand(%)
Image		Mud(%)
Image		Gravel(%)
Image		Uncertainties()
Image
Most users will prefer to use this pre-compiled gridded data.

The format is ASCII real number ESRI (Spatial Analyst) grid of cellsize 0.02deg, lower-left cell perimeter at latitude / longitude 40.5N 12.00E. The null data values are -99.00 . A suitable ArcView legend is included in the ZipFile. Because the gridded files may be updated, ask before using this data in publications or operations.

The gridding technique is an inverse distance weighting, with search radius varied inversely to land proximity under a maximum radius, and the median value adopted in cells that contain data. This method prevents spurious grid results in coastal areas.
Published Data Sources
We thank the authors of these papers for their contributions to the mapping.
  • F. Ken McKinney, 2003. Preservation Potential and Paleoecological Significance of Epibenthic Suspension Feeder-Dominated Benthic Communities (Northern Adriatic Sea), Palaios, 18, 47–62. 
  • Peter C. Dworschak, 2002. The burrows of Callianassa candida (Olivi 1792) and C. whitei Sakai 1999 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Thalassinidea) In: Bright, M., P.C. Dworschak & M. Stachowitsch (Eds.) 2002: The Vienna School of Marine Biology: A Tribute to Jörg Ott. Facultas Universitätsverlag, Wien: ##, p.63-71.
  • Mladen Juracic, 1999. Seabed and Surface Sediment Map of the Kvarner Region, Adriatic Sea, Croatia (Lithological Map, 1:500,000), Geol. Croat., 52/2, 131 – 140.
  • A. D. Albani , V. M. Favero and R. Serandrei Barbero, 1998. Distribution of Sediment and Benthic Foraminifera in the Gulf of Venice, Italy. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 46, 251–265.
  • Mark G. J. Hartl 0 + Jorg A. Ott, ####. An In-Situ Study on the Influence of Ascidian Suspension Feeding on the Subtidal Nepheloid Layer in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Marine Ecology, 19, 248-261.
  • N. Calanchi, A. Cattaneo, E. Dinelli, G. Gasparotto, F. Lucchini, 1998. Tephra layers in Late Quaternary sediments of the central Adriatic Sea, Marine Geology, 149, 191–209.
  • G. Cespuglio, C. Piccinetti, A. Longinelli 1999. Oxygen and carbon isotope profiles from Nassa mutabilisshells (Gastropoda): accretion rates and biological behaviour. Marine Biology, 135: 627-634.
  • Stanislav Franciskovic-Bilinski, Halka Bilinski, Neda Vdovic, Yoganand Balagurunathan, Edward R. Dougherty, 2003. Application of image-based granulometry to siliceous and calcareous estuarine and marine sediments. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 58, 227 –239.
  • Herbert Kollmann & Michael Stachowitsch, 2001. Long-Term Changes in the Benthos of the Northern Adriatic Sea: A Phototransect Approach. Marine Ecology, 22(1-2), 135. 
  • Brambati, A., Ciabatti, M., Fanzutti, G. P., Marabini, F. & Marocco, R. 1983. A new sedimentological textural map of the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea. Bollettino di Oceanologia Teorica ed Applicata 1, 267–271.
  • MARKO NOTAR , HERMINA LESKOV_SEK  and JADRAN FAGANELI, 2001. Composition, Distribution and Sources of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediments of the Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 42(1), 36-44.
  • Leon Moodley, Carlo H.R. Heip, Jack J. Middelburg, 1998. Benthic activity in sediments of the northwestern Adriatic Sea: sediment oxygen consumption; macro- and meiofauna dynamics. Journal of Sea Research 40, 263–280.
  • Frank K. McKinney, Andrej Jaklin, 2001. Sediment accumulation in a shallow-water meadow carpeted by a small erect bryozoan. Sedimentary Geology, 145, 397– 410.
  • Anna Contia, Antonio Stefanonb, Gian Maria Zuppia, 2002. Gas seeps and rock formation in the northern Adriatic Sea. Continental Shelf Research 22, 2333–2344.
  • S. Covelli, J. Faganeli, M. Horvat and A. Brambati, 1999. Porewater Distribution and Benthic Flux Measurements of Mercury and Methylmercury in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 48, 415–428.
  • Antonio Cattaneo, Annamaria Correggiari, Leonardo Langone, Fabio Trincardi, 2003. The late-Holocene Gargano subaqueous delta, Adriatic shelf: Sediment pathways and supply fluctuations. Marine Geology 193, 61-91.
  • F. ALVISI, S. ALBERTAZZI, M. FRIGNANI, G. MAROZZI, M. RAVAIOLI, 2001. SAMPLING AND DATING STRATEGIES IN STUDYING ENVIRONMENTS WITH HIGH SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY. Archo Oceanogr. Limnol. 22, 207-216.
Published Data Sources (continued)
  • Brambatti A & Marocco R 1983. Dispersion and Sedimentation of Industrial Waste of Bauxite Blendes Fluorites and Phosphorites Dumped in the Gulf of Venice Italy. Bolletino di Oceanologia Teorica ed Applicata, 3, 215.
  • F. Oldfield, A. Asioli, C.A. Accorsi, A.M. Mercuri, S. Juggins, L. Langon, T. Rolph, F. Trincardi, G. Wolff, Z. Gibbs, L. Vigliotti, M. Frignani, K. van der Post, N., N. Branch, 2003. A high resolution late Holocene palaeo environmental record from the central Adriatic Sea. Quaternary Science Reviews 22, 319–342.
  • Nives Ogrinc, Jadran Faganeli, Joze Pezdic, 2003. Determination of organic carbon remineralization in near-shore marine sediments (Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic) using stable carbon isotopes. Organic Geochemistry 34, 681–692.
  • N. Ogrinc, J. Faganeli, 2003. STABLE CARBON ISOTOPES IN PORE WATERS OF COASTAL MARINE SEDIMENTS (THE GULF OF TRIESTE, N ADRIATIC). Acta Chim. Slov. 2003, 50, 645-662.
  • Nives Ogrinc and Jadran Faganeli, 2003. STABLE CARBON ISOTOPES IN PORE WATERS OF COASTAL MARINE SEDIMENTS (THE GULF OF TRIESTE, N ADRIATIC. Acta Chim. Slov. 50, 645-662.
  • Pigorini, P. 1967. Aspetti sedimentologici del Mare Adriatico. Memorie della Società Italiana di scienze Naturali-Milano.
  • Pigorini P. 1968. Sources and dispersion of sediments of the Adriatic Sea. Marine Geology 6, 187-229.
  • Pranovi, F., Raicevich, S., Franceschini, G., Farrace, M. G., and Giovanardi, O. 2000. Rapido trawling in the northern Adriatic Sea: effects on benthic communities in an experimental area. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 57: 517–524.
  • Mariangela Ravaioli, Sonia Albertazzi, Francesca Alvisi, Michele Brunetti, Mauro Frignani, Maurizio Maugeri, Teresa Nanni , ####. Records of Climate vs. Human Related Changes in Sediments of the Northern Adriatic Sea, influenced by the Discharge of Adige and Brenta Rivers, ###.
  • D. Ridente, F. Trincardi , 2002. Eustatic and tectonic control on deposition and lateral variability of Quaternary regressive sequences in the Adriatic basin (Italy). Marine Geology 184, 273-293.
  • Timothy C. Rolph, Luigi Vigliotti, Frank Oldfield, 2004. Mineral magnetism and geomagnetic secular variation of marine and lacustrine sediments from central Italy: timing and nature of local and regional Holocene environmental change. Quaternary Science Reviews 23, 1699–1722.
  • Francesca Sangiorgi,  Timme H. Donders, 2004. Reconstructing 150 years of eutrophication in the north-western Adriatic Sea (Italy) using dinoflagellate cysts, pollen and spores. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 60, 69-79.
  • Fabio TRINCARDI, Antonio CATTANEO, Alessandra ASIOLI, Annamaria CORREGGIARI and Leonardo LANGONE, 1996. Stratigraphy of the late-Quaternary deposits in the central Adriatic basin and the record of short-term climatic events. In: P. Guilizzoni and F. Oldfield (Guest Editors), Palaeoenvironmental Analysis of Italian Crater Lake and Adriatic Sediments. Mem. Ist. ital. Idrobiol.; 55: 39-70. 
  • I. UJEVICÂ, N. ODZÏAK and A. BARICÂ, M, 2000. Trace Metal Accumulation in Different Grain Size fractions of the sediments from a semi-enclosed bay heavily contaminated by urban and industrial wastewaters. Wat. Res., 34(11), 3055-3061.
  • Vatova, A. 1935. Ricerche preliminari sulle biocenosi del Golfo di Rovigno. Thalassia 2:1-30.
  • Vatova, A. 1949. La fauna bentonica dell’alto e medio Adriatico. Nova Thalassia 1(3):1-110.
  • C. Welker, E. Sdrigotti, S. Covelli, and J. Faganeli, 2002. Microphytobenthos in the Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic Sea): Relationship with Labile Sedimentary Organic Matter and Nutrients. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 55, 259–273.
  • Cristina Zago, Gabriele Capodaglio, Sergio Ceradini, Giovanni Ciceri, Luisa Abelmoschi, Francesco Soggia, Paolo Cescon, Giuseppe Scarponi,  2000. Benthic fluxes of cadmium, lead, copper and nitrogen species in the northern Adriatic Sea in front of the River Po outflow, Italy. The Science of the Total Environment, 246, 121-137.
Unpublished Data Sources
We also thank these contributors of important unpublished datasets.
  • Richard Signell USGS [SACLANT datasets]
  • F. Ken McKinney, Appalachian State Univ [personal data collection]
  • Alan Niedoroda, URS Corp [Palinkas and George datasets]
  • Chris Sherwood, USGS [Chienti dataset, EuroSTRATAFORM]
  • Albert Kettner INSTAAR (Po region beaches]

Copyright © 2005... INSTAAR, Univ. of Colorado
Last modified  25 Aug 2013