Particle flux scientists employ three main sediment trap designs. The cylindrical, surface-tethered and free-drifting neutrally buoyant traps serve in shallow waters, and the moored conical traps are used for deep waters (drawings are not to scale). Given the generally decreased particle flux at great depths (see graph at left in the figure), the deep traps' conical shape increases the collection area--these traps have a 300 times larger collection area than the shallow water traps.[back]
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