New Theory on Unit-Pockmarks and link to Stromatolites

Hovland, M., Heggland, R., de Vries, M.H., Tjelta, T.I., 2010.
Unit pockmarks and their potential significance for prediction of fluid flow.

J. Marine and Petroleum Geol. 27, 1190-1199.

Click here to download the article (pdf)

Book released in 2008:
Deep-Water Coral Reefs
Unique Biodiversity Hot-Spots

Deep-water coral reefs are found along large sections of the outer continental shelves and slopes of Europe, from North Cape to the Gulf of Cadiz, and because they also occur along the Atlantic seaboard of USA, the Gulf of Mexico, off Brazil, in the Mediterranean, and off New Zealand, they are currently being targeted by international groups of marine scientists. They have become popular and opportune deep-water research targets because they offer exciting frontier exploration, combined with a whole plethora of modern scientific methods, such as deep-sea drilling, sampling, remote control surveying and documentation. Furthermore they represent timely opportunities for further developments within the application of geochemistry, stable isotope research, bacterial sciences, including DNA-sequestering, and medical research (search for bioactive compounds).

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) has arranged a deep-sea scientific drilling campaign on giant carbonate banks off Ireland. Because the reefs currently defy traditional marine-ecological theories, they represent future research opportunities and will enjoy scientific scrutiny for many years to come.

Written for:
Researchers in biology, geology and ecology, upper level graduates, postgraduate students and those working in the oil and fisheries industries and commercial divers

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Welcome to a journey
..beneath the waves

Book released in 2007:
"Seabed Fluid Flow
The Impact on Geology, Biology and the Marine Environment"

Alan Judd

Martin Hovland
StatoilHydro, Norway

Additional Bookmaterial

Book review by Oceangraphy

The "Fauna" reef with high density of unit-pockmarks, up-stream of the reef. This supports the "Hydraualic Theory" for cold-water coral reefs.

Above: Martin Hovland (left) and Paal B. Mortensen onboard the Seaway Commander. They are standing in front of the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) Solo, which has just been recovered from a dive down to a deep-water reef at 300 m depth off mid-Norway, on a mission to collect biological samples.