Satellite remote sensing observations and aerial photography of storm-induced neritic carbonate transport from shallow carbonate platforms

Shallow carbonate platforms are a significant source of biogenic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the marine environment, second in production only to coral reefs. The mechanisms by which platform-derived neritic carbonates are transported to the pelagic water column and deep benthos are significant to the geological history of shallow carbonate platforms and the role of neritic carbonates in the marine carbon cycle. Aerial photography and satellite remote sensing observations of the Bahamas Banks and Bermuda indicate that major sediment transport events are caused by strong surface winds associated with storm systems. While this mechanism is not unexpected, these observations provide an initial assessment of the potential ability of remote sensing to detect these events and quantify the offshore mass transport of neritic carbonate. Strategies for observational monitoring of selected platform environments are described.