The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Palaeoceanography and sedimentology of the Gulf of Cadiz (0-30ka, BP)

Palaeoceanography and sedimentology of the Gulf of Cadiz (0-30ka, BP)
Palaeoceanography and sedimentology of the Gulf of Cadiz (0-30ka, BP)

Evidence is presented for the presence of the Azores Front in the northern Gulf of Cadiz prior to 16ka BP, and its subsequent withdrawal during the last deglaciation.  It is conducted that the North Atlantic warm water sphere was comparable in extent to today during the latter parts of the last glaciation.

It is also proposed that the Mediterranean Outflow plume settled to greater depths during the last glaciation, on the basis that evidence for its presence is found on the Gil Eanes Drift (the lowermost part of the Gulf of Cadiz contourite) but is not found in the modern flow path of the plume.  This observation is consistent with predictions made from the physical constraints on the current system, and will have significant and potentially wide-ranging impact for the circulation of the Atlantic at all depths.  In addition to its direct influence, the relatively shallow settling depth of the modern Mediterranean Outflow plume may promote the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water and thus enhance the meridional overturning.

Sea-level/climatic variation are proposed as the cause of contourite cycles on both large and small scales.  The implications of observed anti-phasing of depositional cycles on the Gil Eanes Drift and the rest of the Gulf of Cadiz drift are discussed.  Sediment deposited on the Gil Eanes Drift is found to be ultimately sourced from southwestern Iberia, initially deposited on the continental shelf and then reworked onto the slope where it is energetically sorted by the waning Mediterranean Outflow Plume and deposited on the sediment drift.

High-resolution colour data scanning is proposed as a tool for palaeoceangraphy, both as a correlation tool and for delineation of sedimentary flux to a location.  Supply of terrigenous material to the western Gulf of Cadiz is found to be significantly enhanced during glacial times.

University of Southampton
Rogerson, Michael
430f8659-835b-428c-9676-23103152fab9
Rogerson, Michael
430f8659-835b-428c-9676-23103152fab9

Rogerson, Michael (2003) Palaeoceanography and sedimentology of the Gulf of Cadiz (0-30ka, BP). University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Evidence is presented for the presence of the Azores Front in the northern Gulf of Cadiz prior to 16ka BP, and its subsequent withdrawal during the last deglaciation.  It is conducted that the North Atlantic warm water sphere was comparable in extent to today during the latter parts of the last glaciation.

It is also proposed that the Mediterranean Outflow plume settled to greater depths during the last glaciation, on the basis that evidence for its presence is found on the Gil Eanes Drift (the lowermost part of the Gulf of Cadiz contourite) but is not found in the modern flow path of the plume.  This observation is consistent with predictions made from the physical constraints on the current system, and will have significant and potentially wide-ranging impact for the circulation of the Atlantic at all depths.  In addition to its direct influence, the relatively shallow settling depth of the modern Mediterranean Outflow plume may promote the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water and thus enhance the meridional overturning.

Sea-level/climatic variation are proposed as the cause of contourite cycles on both large and small scales.  The implications of observed anti-phasing of depositional cycles on the Gil Eanes Drift and the rest of the Gulf of Cadiz drift are discussed.  Sediment deposited on the Gil Eanes Drift is found to be ultimately sourced from southwestern Iberia, initially deposited on the continental shelf and then reworked onto the slope where it is energetically sorted by the waning Mediterranean Outflow Plume and deposited on the sediment drift.

High-resolution colour data scanning is proposed as a tool for palaeoceangraphy, both as a correlation tool and for delineation of sedimentary flux to a location.  Supply of terrigenous material to the western Gulf of Cadiz is found to be significantly enhanced during glacial times.

Text
937882.pdf - Version of Record
Available under License University of Southampton Thesis Licence.
Download (21MB)

More information

Published date: 2003

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 465285
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/465285
PURE UUID: 13898480-f23a-4364-b1f0-bd41203f98af

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 05 Jul 2022 00:34
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 20:05

Export record

Contributors

Author: Michael Rogerson

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×