DATA NEEDS 



A few of the limitations of the available data were discussed, and 

 several areas of scientific information needs were listed: 



■ Physical processes: largely confined to water depths between 100 and 

 750 m, mostly in two canyons (Lydonia and Oceanographer) 



■ Lead-210 and plutonium-239/-240 data as an indicator of sediment 

 stripping efficiency 



■ Rates of sediment accumulation and transport: canyons are possibly 

 "leaky systems" 



■ Radioisotope studies limited to one canyon (Lydonia) 



■ Biological processes, including mechanisms controlling species 

 diversity: variable substrate, limited exploitation, and temperature 

 controls 



■ Geochemical data: walls vs. axis 



■ Textural data: none below 750 m 



Aurand observed that agreement on things known was more useful for MMS 

 purposes than agreement on things unknown. 



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