Contourites in the Galicia Bank region (NW Iberian Atlantic)

• Main Authors: Ercilla, G. (Gemma), Casas, D. (David), Iglesias, J., Vázquez, J.T. (Juan Tomás), Somoza-Losada, L. (Luis), León, R., Medialdea, T. (Teresa), Juan-Valenzuela, C. (Carmen), García, A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga 2010
• Subjects: Bottom currents; Contourite; Moat; Drift; Galicia Bank region; NADW
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10508/7906

Multibeam bathymetry, high resolution multi-channel, and very high resolution single-channel (3.5 kHz)seismic records were used to depict the contouritic features and deposits in the Galicia Bank region (NW IberianAtlantic). Erosive and depositional contouritic features have been defined: moats, furrows, abraded surface, sedimentwaves, elongated separated drifts, and plastered drifts. They are a reflection of the influence of bottom currentsthat erode, re-distribute and winnow the seafloor sediments of the Galicia Bank plateau, and those around manyof the highs of the region. The contouritic features and their sedimentary deposits are generated by several watermasses: MOW, LSW, NADW, and LDW, flowing at different depths and velocities and in different directions. Basedon the current dynamics, two largely different subsystems are defined: contourites developed by a tabular watermass with a multiple current dynamics; and contourites developed by focused/confined current 0