Contourites in the Galicia bank (NW Iberian Atlantic)

• Main Authors: Casas, David, Iglesias, Jorge, Vázquez, Juan Tomás, Somoza, Luis, León Buendía, Ricardo F., Medialdea Cela, Teresa, Juan, Carmen, García, Marga, Ercilla, Gemma
• Format: Still Image
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Contourite; MOW; LSW; NADW; Galicia; Ocean; Bank; Current; Outflow; Labrador Sea; North Atlantic Deep Water; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/31304

International Congress Deep Water Circulation: Processes and Products, 16-18 June 2010, Baiona, Pontevedra The Galicia Bank region is under the influence of different water masses (Mediterranean Outflow Water -MOW-, Labrador Sea Water –LSW-, North Atlantic Deep Water-NADW-, and Lower Deep Water –LDW-), and in this study we focussed in those features and deposits formed by their interaction with the seafloor. The bottom-current features and their sedimentary deposits are one of the most widespread elements in the Galicia Bank region, and they are mapped mostly in the Galicia Bank, Transitional Zone, Deep Galicia Margin and Northwestern Flank provinces. These features comprise erosive elements such as moats (a), furrows (b), and abraded surfaces (c) and depositional elements such as drifts (d) and sediment waves (e). The bottom-current features and deposits identified in the Galicia Bank region define a complex contouritic system that is fully described here for the first time. The currents erode, re-distribute and winnow the seafloor sediments of the Galicia Bank plateau, and those around the Highs and topographic irregularities of the Transitional Zone, Deep Galicia Margin, and Northwestern Flank. This system is generated by several water masses: MOW, LSW, NADW, and LDW, flowing at different depths and velocities and in different directions. Based on the current dynamics, two largely different subsystems are defined: contourites developed by a tabular water mass with a multiple current dynamics; and contourites developed by a focused/confined current MICINN projects: CONTOURIBER (CTM2008-06399-C04-04/MAR) and MONTERA (Ref: CTM-14157-C02-02/MAR) Peer reviewed