Frequency and distribution of carbonate mounds in the Irish Atlantic

• Main Authors: Unnithan, V., Croker, P., Henriet, J.P., Shannon, P., Grehan, A.J., Roberts, J.M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2003
• Subjects: Lophelia pertusa
• Online Access: http://www.vliz.be/nl/open-marien-archief?module=ref&refid=199337

In the past few years, carbonate mound research in the Irish Atlantic has concentrated on the geological, ecological and biological aspects of mound growth and development. The Irish carbonate mounds are unique. They are very numerous (>1000), of various sizes (up to 300m high), and occur as both seabed features and buried mounds. They lie in water depths ranging from 500 to 1500 m. Their morphology and shape ranges from simple conical to complex amalgamated ridge features covering few square km and standing up to 300m in height. The surface of these mounds is generally covered by reef-building cold-water coral species such as Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata . Based on bathymetry and seismic data, the Irish mounds are broadly classified into surface and buried. Further subdivision into mound provinces is based on morphological characteristics and geographical extent/location.This poster contribution focuses on the distribution, classification and internal (seismic) structure of carbonate mounds to the west of Ireland. It also provides an overview of the main results from ongoing research EU 5 th Framework funded projects such as GEOMOUND, ECOMOUND and ACES, and highlight avenues for future collaboration and research.