Oceanographic processes and morphosedimentary products along the Iberian margins: A new multidisciplinary approach

F. Javier Hernández-Molina; Anna Wahlin; Miguel Bruno; Gemma Ercilla; Estefania   Llave; Nuno Serra; Gabriel Roson; Pere Puig; Michele Rebesco; David Van Rooij; David Roque; Cesar Gonzalez-Pola; Francisco Sanchez; Maria Gomez-Romero; Benedict Preu; Tilmann Schwenk; Till JJ  Hanebuth; R.F. Sánchez Leal; J. García-Lafuente; Rachel E. Brackenridge; Carmen Juan; Dorrik A. V. Stow; José María Sánchez-González

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2015.12.008

Oceanographic processes and morphosedimentary products along the Iberian margins: A new multidisciplinary approach

F. Javier Hernández-Molina^*, Anna Wahlin, Miguel Bruno, Gemma Ercilla, Estefania Llave, Nuno Serra, Gabriel Roson, Pere Puig, Michele Rebesco, David Van Rooij, David Roque, Cesar Gonzalez-Pola, Francisco Sanchez, Maria Gomez-Romero, Benedict Preu, Tilmann Schwenk, Till JJ Hanebuth, R.F. Sánchez Leal, J. García-Lafuente, Rachel E. BrackenridgeCarmen Juan, Dorrik A. V. Stow, José María Sánchez-González

^*Corresponding author for this work

Geology and Geophysics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

61 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Our understanding of bottom-currents and associated oceanographic processes (e.g., overflows, barotropic tidal currents) including intermittent processes (e.g., vertical eddies, deep sea storms, horizontal vortices, internal waves and tsunamis) is rapidly evolving. Many deep-water processes remain poorly understood due to limited direct observations, but can generate significant depositional and erosional features on both short and long term time scales. This paper represents a review work, which describes for the first time these oceanographic processes and examines their potential role in the sedimentary features along the Iberian continental margins. This review explores the implications of the studied processes, given their secondary role relative to other factors such as mass-transport and turbiditic processes, and highlights three major results: a) contourite depositional and erosional features are ubiquitous along the margins, indicating that bottom currents and associated oceanographic processes control the physiography and sedimentation; b) the position of interfaces between major water masses and their vertical and spatial variation in time specifically appears to exert primary control in determining major morphologic changes along the slope gradient, including the contourite terraces development; and c) contourites deposits exhibit greater variation than the established facies model suggests. Therefore, a consistent facies model however faces substantial challenges in terms of the wide range of oceanographic processes that can influence in their development. An integrated interpretation of these oceanographic processes requires an understanding of contourites, seafloor features, their spatial and temporal evolution, and the near-bottom flows that form them. This approach will synthesize oceanographic data, seafloor morphology, sediments and seismic images to improve our knowledge of permanent and intermittent processes around Iberia, and evaluate their conceptual and regional role in the margin's sedimentary evolution. Given their complexes, three-dimensional and temporally-variable nature, integration of these processes into sedimentary, oceanographic and climatological frameworks will require a multidisciplinary approach that includes Geology, Physical oceanography, Paleoceanography and Benthic Biology.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	127-156
Number of pages	30
Journal	Marine Geology
Volume	378
Early online date	20 Dec 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2015.12.008
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2016

Bibliographical note

Acknowledgements
This contribution is a product of the IGCP-619 and INQUA-1204 projects, and is partially supported through the CTM 2008-06399-C04/MAR (CONTOURIBER); CTM 2012-39599-C03 (MOWER); CTM 2010-21229/MAR projects and MARUM project GALIOMAR, as well as the Continental Margins Research Group (CMRG) at Royal Holloway University of London (UK). This work interpreted samples and data provided by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). The figures presented in this paper are original, partially adapted from previous works, and partially reproduced from previous works. Permission has been obtained for the reproduction or adaptation. We thank the British Oceanographic Data Center (BODC) and National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton (NOCS) for current metre data from Fig. 8, the EOLi (Earth Observation Link, European Space Agency) for some images included in Fig. 13; Yasuhiro Takashimizu (Niigata University, Japan) for permission to include an example of possible tsunami deposits in the Gulf of Cádiz in Fig. 16, V. Huvenne (NOCS, UK) for submarine photo of Fig. 17E. We are grateful to A. Piola (SHN, Argetina) and D. G. Borisov (Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia) for their helpful guidance in revising the manuscript before it submission. We also thank the guest editors, D. Van Rooij and A. Rüggeberg (Ghent Univ. Belgium); C. Gong (Univ. Texas at Austin, USA) and E. Martorelli (Roma Univ.) for their input and very positive and helpful feedback and discussions that have improved the presentation of this research.

Keywords

Iberian margins
Oceanographic processes
Bottom currents
Sedimentary processes
Contourites

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Cite this

Hernández-Molina, F. J., Wahlin, A., Bruno, M., Ercilla, G., Llave, E., Serra, N., Roson, G., Puig, P., Rebesco, M., Van Rooij, D., Roque, D., Gonzalez-Pola, C., Sanchez, F., Gomez-Romero, M., Preu, B., Schwenk, T., Hanebuth, T. JJ., Sánchez Leal, R. F., García-Lafuente, J., ... Sánchez-González, J. M. (2016). Oceanographic processes and morphosedimentary products along the Iberian margins: A new multidisciplinary approach. Marine Geology, 378, 127-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2015.12.008

Hernández-Molina, FJ, Wahlin, A, Bruno, M, Ercilla, G, Llave, E, Serra, N, Roson, G, Puig, P, Rebesco, M, Van Rooij, D, Roque, D, Gonzalez-Pola, C, Sanchez, F, Gomez-Romero, M, Preu, B, Schwenk, T, Hanebuth, TJJ, Sánchez Leal, RF, García-Lafuente, J, Brackenridge, RE, Juan, C, Stow, DAV & Sánchez-González, JM 2016, 'Oceanographic processes and morphosedimentary products along the Iberian margins: A new multidisciplinary approach', Marine Geology, vol. 378, pp. 127-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2015.12.008

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abstract = "Our understanding of bottom-currents and associated oceanographic processes (e.g., overflows, barotropic tidal currents) including intermittent processes (e.g., vertical eddies, deep sea storms, horizontal vortices, internal waves and tsunamis) is rapidly evolving. Many deep-water processes remain poorly understood due to limited direct observations, but can generate significant depositional and erosional features on both short and long term time scales. This paper represents a review work, which describes for the first time these oceanographic processes and examines their potential role in the sedimentary features along the Iberian continental margins. This review explores the implications of the studied processes, given their secondary role relative to other factors such as mass-transport and turbiditic processes, and highlights three major results: a) contourite depositional and erosional features are ubiquitous along the margins, indicating that bottom currents and associated oceanographic processes control the physiography and sedimentation; b) the position of interfaces between major water masses and their vertical and spatial variation in time specifically appears to exert primary control in determining major morphologic changes along the slope gradient, including the contourite terraces development; and c) contourites deposits exhibit greater variation than the established facies model suggests. Therefore, a consistent facies model however faces substantial challenges in terms of the wide range of oceanographic processes that can influence in their development. An integrated interpretation of these oceanographic processes requires an understanding of contourites, seafloor features, their spatial and temporal evolution, and the near-bottom flows that form them. This approach will synthesize oceanographic data, seafloor morphology, sediments and seismic images to improve our knowledge of permanent and intermittent processes around Iberia, and evaluate their conceptual and regional role in the margin's sedimentary evolution. Given their complexes, three-dimensional and temporally-variable nature, integration of these processes into sedimentary, oceanographic and climatological frameworks will require a multidisciplinary approach that includes Geology, Physical oceanography, Paleoceanography and Benthic Biology.",

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author = "Hern{\'a}ndez-Molina, {F. Javier} and Anna Wahlin and Miguel Bruno and Gemma Ercilla and Estefania Llave and Nuno Serra and Gabriel Roson and Pere Puig and Michele Rebesco and {Van Rooij}, David and David Roque and Cesar Gonzalez-Pola and Francisco Sanchez and Maria Gomez-Romero and Benedict Preu and Tilmann Schwenk and Hanebuth, {Till JJ} and {S{\'a}nchez Leal}, R.F. and J. Garc{\'i}a-Lafuente and Brackenridge, {Rachel E.} and Carmen Juan and Stow, {Dorrik A. V.} and S{\'a}nchez-Gonz{\'a}lez, {Jos{\'e} Mar{\'i}a}",

note = "Acknowledgements This contribution is a product of the IGCP-619 and INQUA-1204 projects, and is partially supported through the CTM 2008-06399-C04/MAR (CONTOURIBER); CTM 2012-39599-C03 (MOWER); CTM 2010-21229/MAR projects and MARUM project GALIOMAR, as well as the Continental Margins Research Group (CMRG) at Royal Holloway University of London (UK). This work interpreted samples and data provided by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). The figures presented in this paper are original, partially adapted from previous works, and partially reproduced from previous works. Permission has been obtained for the reproduction or adaptation. We thank the British Oceanographic Data Center (BODC) and National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton (NOCS) for current metre data from Fig. 8, the EOLi (Earth Observation Link, European Space Agency) for some images included in Fig. 13; Yasuhiro Takashimizu (Niigata University, Japan) for permission to include an example of possible tsunami deposits in the Gulf of C{\'a}diz in Fig. 16, V. Huvenne (NOCS, UK) for submarine photo of Fig. 17E. We are grateful to A. Piola (SHN, Argetina) and D. G. Borisov (Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia) for their helpful guidance in revising the manuscript before it submission. We also thank the guest editors, D. Van Rooij and A. R{\"u}ggeberg (Ghent Univ. Belgium); C. Gong (Univ. Texas at Austin, USA) and E. Martorelli (Roma Univ.) for their input and very positive and helpful feedback and discussions that have improved the presentation of this research.",

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T1 - Oceanographic processes and morphosedimentary products along the Iberian margins

T2 - A new multidisciplinary approach

AU - Hernández-Molina, F. Javier

AU - Wahlin, Anna

AU - Bruno, Miguel

AU - Ercilla, Gemma

AU - Llave, Estefania

AU - Serra, Nuno

AU - Roson, Gabriel

AU - Puig, Pere

AU - Rebesco, Michele

AU - Van Rooij, David

AU - Roque, David

AU - Gonzalez-Pola, Cesar

AU - Sanchez, Francisco

AU - Gomez-Romero, Maria

AU - Preu, Benedict

AU - Schwenk, Tilmann

AU - Hanebuth, Till JJ

AU - Sánchez Leal, R.F.

AU - García-Lafuente, J.

AU - Brackenridge, Rachel E.

AU - Juan, Carmen

AU - Stow, Dorrik A. V.

AU - Sánchez-González, José María

N1 - Acknowledgements This contribution is a product of the IGCP-619 and INQUA-1204 projects, and is partially supported through the CTM 2008-06399-C04/MAR (CONTOURIBER); CTM 2012-39599-C03 (MOWER); CTM 2010-21229/MAR projects and MARUM project GALIOMAR, as well as the Continental Margins Research Group (CMRG) at Royal Holloway University of London (UK). This work interpreted samples and data provided by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). The figures presented in this paper are original, partially adapted from previous works, and partially reproduced from previous works. Permission has been obtained for the reproduction or adaptation. We thank the British Oceanographic Data Center (BODC) and National Oceanographic Centre, Southampton (NOCS) for current metre data from Fig. 8, the EOLi (Earth Observation Link, European Space Agency) for some images included in Fig. 13; Yasuhiro Takashimizu (Niigata University, Japan) for permission to include an example of possible tsunami deposits in the Gulf of Cádiz in Fig. 16, V. Huvenne (NOCS, UK) for submarine photo of Fig. 17E. We are grateful to A. Piola (SHN, Argetina) and D. G. Borisov (Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia) for their helpful guidance in revising the manuscript before it submission. We also thank the guest editors, D. Van Rooij and A. Rüggeberg (Ghent Univ. Belgium); C. Gong (Univ. Texas at Austin, USA) and E. Martorelli (Roma Univ.) for their input and very positive and helpful feedback and discussions that have improved the presentation of this research.

PY - 2016/8/1

Y1 - 2016/8/1

N2 - Our understanding of bottom-currents and associated oceanographic processes (e.g., overflows, barotropic tidal currents) including intermittent processes (e.g., vertical eddies, deep sea storms, horizontal vortices, internal waves and tsunamis) is rapidly evolving. Many deep-water processes remain poorly understood due to limited direct observations, but can generate significant depositional and erosional features on both short and long term time scales. This paper represents a review work, which describes for the first time these oceanographic processes and examines their potential role in the sedimentary features along the Iberian continental margins. This review explores the implications of the studied processes, given their secondary role relative to other factors such as mass-transport and turbiditic processes, and highlights three major results: a) contourite depositional and erosional features are ubiquitous along the margins, indicating that bottom currents and associated oceanographic processes control the physiography and sedimentation; b) the position of interfaces between major water masses and their vertical and spatial variation in time specifically appears to exert primary control in determining major morphologic changes along the slope gradient, including the contourite terraces development; and c) contourites deposits exhibit greater variation than the established facies model suggests. Therefore, a consistent facies model however faces substantial challenges in terms of the wide range of oceanographic processes that can influence in their development. An integrated interpretation of these oceanographic processes requires an understanding of contourites, seafloor features, their spatial and temporal evolution, and the near-bottom flows that form them. This approach will synthesize oceanographic data, seafloor morphology, sediments and seismic images to improve our knowledge of permanent and intermittent processes around Iberia, and evaluate their conceptual and regional role in the margin's sedimentary evolution. Given their complexes, three-dimensional and temporally-variable nature, integration of these processes into sedimentary, oceanographic and climatological frameworks will require a multidisciplinary approach that includes Geology, Physical oceanography, Paleoceanography and Benthic Biology.

AB - Our understanding of bottom-currents and associated oceanographic processes (e.g., overflows, barotropic tidal currents) including intermittent processes (e.g., vertical eddies, deep sea storms, horizontal vortices, internal waves and tsunamis) is rapidly evolving. Many deep-water processes remain poorly understood due to limited direct observations, but can generate significant depositional and erosional features on both short and long term time scales. This paper represents a review work, which describes for the first time these oceanographic processes and examines their potential role in the sedimentary features along the Iberian continental margins. This review explores the implications of the studied processes, given their secondary role relative to other factors such as mass-transport and turbiditic processes, and highlights three major results: a) contourite depositional and erosional features are ubiquitous along the margins, indicating that bottom currents and associated oceanographic processes control the physiography and sedimentation; b) the position of interfaces between major water masses and their vertical and spatial variation in time specifically appears to exert primary control in determining major morphologic changes along the slope gradient, including the contourite terraces development; and c) contourites deposits exhibit greater variation than the established facies model suggests. Therefore, a consistent facies model however faces substantial challenges in terms of the wide range of oceanographic processes that can influence in their development. An integrated interpretation of these oceanographic processes requires an understanding of contourites, seafloor features, their spatial and temporal evolution, and the near-bottom flows that form them. This approach will synthesize oceanographic data, seafloor morphology, sediments and seismic images to improve our knowledge of permanent and intermittent processes around Iberia, and evaluate their conceptual and regional role in the margin's sedimentary evolution. Given their complexes, three-dimensional and temporally-variable nature, integration of these processes into sedimentary, oceanographic and climatological frameworks will require a multidisciplinary approach that includes Geology, Physical oceanography, Paleoceanography and Benthic Biology.

KW - Iberian margins

KW - Oceanographic processes

KW - Bottom currents

KW - Sedimentary processes

KW - Contourites

U2 - 10.1016/j.margeo.2015.12.008

DO - 10.1016/j.margeo.2015.12.008

M3 - Article

SN - 0025-3227

VL - 378

SP - 127

EP - 156

JO - Marine Geology

JF - Marine Geology

ER -

Oceanographic processes and morphosedimentary products along the Iberian margins: A new multidisciplinary approach

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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