The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Late Quaternary sedimentary processes and ocean circulation changes at the southeast Greenland margin

Late Quaternary sedimentary processes and ocean circulation changes at the southeast Greenland margin
Late Quaternary sedimentary processes and ocean circulation changes at the southeast Greenland margin
A study has been made of late Quaternary depositional processes and bottom current activity on the Southeast Greenland margin, using seismic, sub-bottom profiling and deep-tow side-scan sonar data as well as sediment core information. The seabed data demonstrate the occurrence of strong, southerly bottom currents prevailing on the slope and rise. Well-defined longitudinal bedforms indicate maximum mean near-bottom current velocities of up to at least 1.0 m/s at the depth stratum of Labrador Sea water (800–1500 m). Similarly strong currents occur in Denmark Strait overflow water (DSOW) at the base of the slope, whereas more basinward the maximum DSOW flow speed is lower. Iceberg plow marks were found down to about 700 m water depth. Both at the shelf edge and on the lower slope and rise the seafloor morphology is indicative of downslope sediment transport and mass flow deposition, which is concluded to be a typically glacial feature. After generally more sluggish deep-water circulation during the last glacial maximum, DSOW basin ventilation was re-established shortly before 13.3 ka. On the shelf, in front of the retreating Greenland ice margin, permanent or semi-permanent sea ice conditions prevailed until about 12.5 ka. At that time increased Irminger Current activity had resulted in warming, and East Greenland Current (EGC)-controlled iceberg drift increased. No evidence was found for a return to extreme glacial conditions or a ceasing of DSOW flow during the Younger Dryas. Abundant coarse IRD collected at greater water depth from shallow sub-seabed strata has a provenance mainly in the northern part of East Greenland (68–73°N), which demonstrates the existence of a pre-Holocene EGC system initially extending to beyond the shelf edge.
Southeast Greenland margin, Denmark Strait overflow, East Greenland Current, deglaciation, sedimentation
0025-3227
109-129
Kuijpers, A.
40a8e7ed-f4a3-4b1f-a1b9-1e33d50a6146
Troelstra, S.R.
d6f8134c-25ee-4f21-845e-d368600595fd
Prins, M.A.
e56ddd79-5884-42d2-8235-b22438cadcbd
Linthout, K.
4ab52c87-a189-46ac-93b6-da2a8234e127
Akhmetzhanov, A.
c46da8d8-8b9f-404b-9b57-9f669d37d781
Bouryak, S.
76100a4a-961f-4ac8-8efd-d943b234767c
Bachmann, M.F.
85951f49-56f7-4766-9d61-9f3214433276
Lassen, S.
63a2a31a-1883-4d8c-b398-32c3da7bf871
Rasmussen, S.
8c8378a6-88fa-4cf6-923b-ac99d4b2fd99
Jensen, J.B.
ab7283c2-ebcc-458a-a638-4d04afb28c76
Kuijpers, A.
40a8e7ed-f4a3-4b1f-a1b9-1e33d50a6146
Troelstra, S.R.
d6f8134c-25ee-4f21-845e-d368600595fd
Prins, M.A.
e56ddd79-5884-42d2-8235-b22438cadcbd
Linthout, K.
4ab52c87-a189-46ac-93b6-da2a8234e127
Akhmetzhanov, A.
c46da8d8-8b9f-404b-9b57-9f669d37d781
Bouryak, S.
76100a4a-961f-4ac8-8efd-d943b234767c
Bachmann, M.F.
85951f49-56f7-4766-9d61-9f3214433276
Lassen, S.
63a2a31a-1883-4d8c-b398-32c3da7bf871
Rasmussen, S.
8c8378a6-88fa-4cf6-923b-ac99d4b2fd99
Jensen, J.B.
ab7283c2-ebcc-458a-a638-4d04afb28c76

Kuijpers, A., Troelstra, S.R., Prins, M.A., Linthout, K., Akhmetzhanov, A., Bouryak, S., Bachmann, M.F., Lassen, S., Rasmussen, S. and Jensen, J.B. (2003) Late Quaternary sedimentary processes and ocean circulation changes at the southeast Greenland margin. Marine Geology, 195 (1-4), 109-129. (doi:10.1016/S0025-3227(02)00684-9).

Record type: Article

Abstract

A study has been made of late Quaternary depositional processes and bottom current activity on the Southeast Greenland margin, using seismic, sub-bottom profiling and deep-tow side-scan sonar data as well as sediment core information. The seabed data demonstrate the occurrence of strong, southerly bottom currents prevailing on the slope and rise. Well-defined longitudinal bedforms indicate maximum mean near-bottom current velocities of up to at least 1.0 m/s at the depth stratum of Labrador Sea water (800–1500 m). Similarly strong currents occur in Denmark Strait overflow water (DSOW) at the base of the slope, whereas more basinward the maximum DSOW flow speed is lower. Iceberg plow marks were found down to about 700 m water depth. Both at the shelf edge and on the lower slope and rise the seafloor morphology is indicative of downslope sediment transport and mass flow deposition, which is concluded to be a typically glacial feature. After generally more sluggish deep-water circulation during the last glacial maximum, DSOW basin ventilation was re-established shortly before 13.3 ka. On the shelf, in front of the retreating Greenland ice margin, permanent or semi-permanent sea ice conditions prevailed until about 12.5 ka. At that time increased Irminger Current activity had resulted in warming, and East Greenland Current (EGC)-controlled iceberg drift increased. No evidence was found for a return to extreme glacial conditions or a ceasing of DSOW flow during the Younger Dryas. Abundant coarse IRD collected at greater water depth from shallow sub-seabed strata has a provenance mainly in the northern part of East Greenland (68–73°N), which demonstrates the existence of a pre-Holocene EGC system initially extending to beyond the shelf edge.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: 30 March 2003
Keywords: Southeast Greenland margin, Denmark Strait overflow, East Greenland Current, deglaciation, sedimentation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 58868
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/58868
ISSN: 0025-3227
PURE UUID: 21c18228-60bf-4c68-8f4f-a15af960d83a

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 18 Aug 2008
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:12

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: A. Kuijpers
Author: S.R. Troelstra
Author: M.A. Prins
Author: K. Linthout
Author: A. Akhmetzhanov
Author: S. Bouryak
Author: M.F. Bachmann
Author: S. Lassen
Author: S. Rasmussen
Author: J.B. Jensen

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.

×