NSF Org:	OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences
Recipient:	TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	September 4, 2009
Latest Amendment Date:	September 4, 2009
Award Number:	0930829
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Barbara Ransom bransom@nsf.gov  (703)292-7792 OCE  Division Of Ocean Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	September 15, 2009
End Date:	August 31, 2014 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$594,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$594,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2009 = $594,000.00
History of Investigator:	Juergen Schieber (Principal Investigator) jschiebe@indiana.edu Arndt Schimmelmann (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Indiana University 107 S INDIANA AVE BLOOMINGTON IN  US  47405-7000 (317)278-3473
Sponsor Congressional District:	09
Primary Place of Performance:	Indiana University 107 S INDIANA AVE BLOOMINGTON IN  US  47405-7000
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	09
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	YH86RTW2YVJ4
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	Marine Geology and Geophysics, EMERGING TOPICS
Primary Program Source:	01000910DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	162000, 776400
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

Clay-rich marine sediments form Earth's main sink for organic carbon. This determines atmospheric oxygen levels, as well as fluctuations of global climate. For example, an increase in carbon burial effectiveness lowers atmospheric CO2 and induces global cooling, with an increase creating the opposite effect. Understanding oceanic carbon burial therefore has a direct bearing on how we model past changes of the earth system and predict future developments, such as global warming due to fossil fuel consumption. This research carries out an ambitious and holistic controlled laboratory examination of the transport, deposition, and degradation of organic matter in clay-rich sediments. It involves construction of a novel, new flume that allows visualization of transported organo-clay flocs and bed forms and allows for the control of temperature and system redox conditions. The work also involves detailed transmission and electron microscopic studies of sediment and organic matter textural relations, a novel integrated organic matter degradation study, and development and parameterization of theoretical and mathematical models of carbon sequestration and degradation. Broader impacts of the work include support of two researchers in an EPSCoR state (Mississippi), student training, and public outreach through YouTube and the Internet. It is also applicable to increasing our understanding of the dispersal of pollutants by sedimentary processes and may also help the search for unconventional fossil fuel resources that can ease our transition to the next generation of fuels and power sources.

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