Postglacial sedimentary processes on the Storfjorden and Kveithola trough mouth fans: impact of extreme glacimarine sedimentation

• Published in: Global and Planetary Change
• Main Authors: Lucchi, R. G., Camerlenghi, A., Rebesco, M., Colmenero-Hidalgo, E., Sierro, F. J., Sagnotti, L., Urgeles, R., Melis, R., Morigi, C., Bárcena, M.-A., Giorgetti, G., Villa, G., Persico, D., Flores, J.-A., Rigual-Hernández, A. S., Pedrosa, M. T., Macrì, P., Caburlotto, A.
• Other Authors: Lucchi, R. G.; OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c, I-34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy, Camerlenghi, A.; OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c, I-34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy, Rebesco, M.; OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c, I-34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy, Colmenero-Hidalgo, E.; Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Sierro, F. J.; Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Sagnotti, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Urgeles, R.; Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain, Melis, R.; Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università di Trieste, Via E. Weiss 2, I-34128 Trieste, Italy, Morigi, C.; Department of Stratigraphy, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark, Bárcena, M.-A.; Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Giorgetti, G.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Siena, via Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy, Villa, G.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra “Macedonio Melloni”, Parco Area delle Scienze, 157A, 43124 Parma, Italy, Persico, D.; Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra “Macedonio Melloni”, Parco Area delle Scienze, 157A, 43124 Parma, Italy, Flores, J.-A.; Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Rigual-Hernández, A. S.; Department of Geology, Fa, Pedrosa, M. T.; Departament d'Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat de Geologia, C/Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain, Macrì, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Caburlotto, A.; OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c, I-34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy, OGS (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale), Borgo Grotta Gigante 42/c, I-34010 Sgonico, Trieste, Italy, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, E-37008 Salamanca, Spain, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain, Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università di Trieste, Via E. Weiss 2, I-34128 Trieste, Italy, Department of Stratigraphy, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Siena, via Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy, Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra “Macedonio Melloni”, Parco Area delle Scienze, 157A, 43124 Parma, Italy, Department of Geology, Fa, Departament d'Estratigrafia, Paleontologia i Geociències Marines, Universitat de Barcelona, Facultat de Geologia, C/Martí i Franquès, s/n, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Science Limited 2013
• Subjects: Barents Sea; sedimentary processes; LGM; meltwater plumes; gullies; MWP-1a; 03. Hydrosphere::03.01. General::03.01.06. Paleoceanography and paleoclimatology; 04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.08. Sediments: dating; processes; transport; 04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.10. Stratigraphy; 04. Solid Earth::04.05. Geomagnetism::04.05.09. Environmental magnetism; International Polar Year; IPY
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8879; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2013.10.008

The depositional history of the Storfjorden and Kveithola trough-mouth fans (TMFs) in the northwestern Barents Sea has been investigated within two coordinated Spanish and Italian projects in the framework of the International Polar Year (IPY) Activity 367, NICE STREAMS. The investigation has been conducted using a multidisciplinary approach to the study of sediment cores positioned on high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and TOPAS/CHIRP sub-bottom profiles. Core correlation and the age model were based on 27 AMS 14C samples, rock magnetic parameters, lithofacies sequences, and the presence of marker beds including two oxidized layers marking the post Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) inception of deglaciation (OX-2) and the Younger Dryas cold climatic event (OX-1). Sediment facies analysis allowed the distinction of a number of depositional processes whose onset appears closely related to ice stream dynamics and oceanographic patterns in response to climate change. The glacigenic diamicton with low water content, high density, and high shear strength, deposited during glacial maxima, indicates ice streams grounded at the shelf edge. Massive release of IRD occurred at the inception of deglaciation in response to increased calving rates with possible outer ice streams lift off and collapse. The presence of a several-meter-thick sequence of interlaminated sediments deposited by subglacial outbursts of turbid meltwater (plumites) indicates rapid ice streams' melting and retreat. Crudely-layered and heavily-bioturbated sediments were deposited by contour currents under climatic/environmental conditions favorable to bioproductivity. The extreme sedimentation rate of 3.4 cm a− 1 calculated for the plumites from the upper-slope area indicates a massive, nearly instantaneous (less than 150 years), terrigenous input corresponding to an outstanding meltwater event. We propose these interlaminated sediments to represent the high-latitude marine record of MeltWater Pulse 1a (MWP-1a). Different bathymetric and oceanographic ...