Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Review of the late Quaternary stratigraphy of the northern Gulf of Cadiz continental margin: new insights into controlling factors and global implications
Mestdagh, T.; Lobo, F.J.; Llave, E.; Hernández-Molina, F.J.; Van Rooij, D. (2019). Review of the late Quaternary stratigraphy of the northern Gulf of Cadiz continental margin: new insights into controlling factors and global implications. Earth-Sci. Rev. 198: 102944. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.102944
In: Earth-Science Reviews. Elsevier: Amsterdam; Lausanne; London; New York; Oxford; Shannon. ISSN 0012-8252; e-ISSN 1872-6828, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Stratigraphy; Sea level; Tectonics; Oceanography; Late Quaternary; Gulf of Cadiz

Authors  Top 
  • Mestdagh, T., more
  • Lobo, F.J.
  • Llave, E.
  • Hernández-Molina, F.J.
  • Van Rooij, D., more

Abstract
    Over the past decades, the northern Gulf of Cadiz has been the focus of a wide range of late Quaternary seismic and sequence stratigraphic studies, either addressing the slope contourite depositional system (CDS), or the development of the continental shelf. Yet, high-resolution seismic data bridging between these domains and age information have remained sparse. This study, based on new high-resolution reflection seismic profiles calibrated to IODP Expedition 339 sites U1386/U1387, now presents an updated stratigraphic framework, that integrates (for the first time) the late Quaternary records of the northern Gulf of Cadiz middle slope to shelf off the Guadiana River.Seismic stratigraphic analysis of the stacking, depocenter distribution, stratal architecture and facies of the seismic (sub-)units reveals the influence of ~100 kyr sea-level variations paced by Milankovitch (eccentricity) cycles, tectonics (manifesting as two pulses of uplift and margin progradation), sediment supply and bottom current activity. This work furthermore contributes to the application and understanding of high-resolution, late Quaternary sequence stratigraphy. Firstly, the proposed sequence stratigraphic interpretation shows that adaptations to the basic models are required to integrate the shelf and slope record, and to account for the presence of a significant alongslope (bottom current-controlled) component. Secondly, the results confirm that the sequences are dominantly composed of regressive deposits, whereas the preservation of transgressive to highstand deposits is more irregular. Significantly, the common assumption that successive major glacial lowstands are consistently recorded as well-marked, shelf-wide erosional unconformities, is demonstrated to be occasionally invalid, as tectonics can obliterate this one-to-one relationship.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors