Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Continental slopes'

The Antarctic continental margin contains a diverse range of continental slope morphologies, including iceberg keel marks, gullies, channels, mass-wasting features (slides, slumps), ridges, furrows, mounds and trough mouth fans. These features vary significantly in morphology, with bedforms varying in size (width, amplitude and length), shelf incision, sinuosity, branching order, spatial density and cross-sectional shape. The processes which form these features and the environmental controls influencing their morphology are not well documented or well constrained. Understanding the processes operating on the Antarctic continental margin is essential for interpreting seafloor erosion patterns, continental margin evolution, slope instability and sediment core records from the continental slope and rise. Through quantitative analysis of multibeam bathymetric data along >2670 km of the outer shelf and upper-slope of high latitude continental margins, five distinct Antarctic gully types are identified. Gully morphology was found to vary with local slope character (slope geometry, gradient), regional factors (location of cross-shelf troughs, trough mouth fans and drainage basin size), sediment yield and ice-sheet history. Most gullies are likely formed by: (1) flows generated as a result of the release of subglacial meltwater from beneath an ice-sheet grounded to the shelf edge during glacial maxima; (2) turbidity currents initiated by intense iceberg scouring; or (3) small-scale mass-wasting. Erosion by cascading dense water overflow does not form the deeply incised and V-shaped gullies that occur over much of the Antarctic continental margin. A comparison of some Arctic and Antarctic gully morphologies shows that the Antarctic gullies have much deeper mean incision depths and greater shelf-incisions, suggesting that they either formed over significantly longer periods, or by a greater release of meltwater in the areas with greater gully incision depths. The first morphological analysis of the southern Weddell Sea outer shelf and upper slope is presented. Two large and relatively recent submarine slides occur on the Crary Fan, the first Quaternary slides to be documented on an Antarctic trough mouth fan. These slides provide evidence for recent large-scale mass-wasting events on the Antarctic continental margin. The interpretation of bedforms on the outer shelf of the southeastern Weddell Sea provide insight into the timing and extent of past ice and points to grounded ice near to the shelf edge during the Late Quaternary.

Submarine landslides at open continental slopes are the largest mass movements on Earth and can cause damaging tsunamis. To be able to predict where and when such large landslides may occur in the future requires fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that cause them. Due to the inaccessibility of these features this understanding is based on poorly tested hypotheses. Recent studies have proposed that more landslides occur during periods of sea level rise and lowstand, or during periods of rapid sedimentation. These hypotheses are tested by comparing a comprehensive global data set of ages for large submarine landslides to global mean sea level and local sedimentation rates. The data set does not show statistically significant patterns, trends or clusters in landslide abundance, which suggests that the link between sea level and landslide frequency is too weak to be detected using the available global data base. The analysis also shows no evidence for an immediate influence of rapid sedimentation on slope stability, as failures tend to occur several thousand years after periods of increased sedimentation rates. Large submarine landslides occur on remarkably low slope gradients (<2�), which makes them difficult to explain. A widely used explanation for failure of such low angle slopes is high excess pore pressure due to rapid sedimentation and/or focused pore fluid flow to the toe of the slope. If these hypotheses are universal, and therefore also hold for continental margins with comparatively low rates of sediment deposition (where numerous large landslides are observed), is tested in this thesis. Fully coupled 2D stress-fluid flow finite element models are created that simulate the excess pore pressure and drainage response of a continental slope to the deposition of new sediment. Homogeneous models with a wide range of physical-mechanical properties as well as models with an aquifer are loaded by low rates of sediment deposition. All models turn out stable and resulting excess pore pressures are too low to significantly decrease effective stress anywhere along the slope. Hence, factors other than sediment deposition must be fundamental for initiating slope failure, at least in locations with slow sedimentation rates. The results obtained in this thesis not only indicate that failure mechanisms that have previously been considered important may not be universal. They also emphasise the large uncertainties in our current understanding of the occurrence, timing and frequency of large submarine landslides at open continental slopes.

In this study 18 sediment samples were collected from the upper continental slope across the coast of the state of Sergipe in January 2007. The composition and distribution pattern of recent foraminifera were studied. For each sample, 300 foraminifera shells were identified, reaching 5400 different specimens. The samples were treated initially with the division by quartering, washed with water, weighed to 1 g and finally screened. The study shows 4504 specimens from benthic and 896 planktonic foraminifera. A total of 167 taxa were identified, with 84 genera and 157 benthic taxa. The benthic species most frequent were Amphistegina sp, Cassidulina laevigata, Siphonina pulchra and Peneroplis carinatus. Benthic and planktonic foraminifera appeared in all samples. For seven genera of planktonic foraminifera, an amount of 10 species could be identified. Planktonic species most frequent were Globigerinoides conglobatus, G. ruber, G. trilobus, Globorotalia menardii e Globigerina bulloides. The 18 sampling sites in the study area are predominantly located in bioclastic environments, except for two points that are located near of the São Francisco canyon, which is a siliciclastic environment. These results are completely new and they will allow extending the composition of foraminifera that occur along the studied area. The data are consistent with those found by other authors in different regions of the northeastern Brazilian coast. Taxonomic changes observed on this study at the generic and specific level of the studied foraminifera agree with literature data.
Neste trabalho foram analisadas 18 amostras de sedimento provenientes do talude continental superior do Estado de Sergipe, coletadas em janeiro de 2007. Os objetivos do trabalho foram analisar a composição e o padrão de distribuição dos foraminíferos recentes ao longo do talude continental superior de Sergipe e correlacioná-los aos fatores abióticos, como granulometria, teor de matéria orgânica e carbonato de cálcio. Foram triadas 300 carapaças de foraminíferos de cada amostra, totalizando 5400 exemplares. As amostras de sedimento foram quarteadas, em seguida foram lavadas, pesadas (1g de sedimento) e triadas para análise dos foraminíferos. Foram identificados 4.504 exemplares de foraminíferos bentônicos e 896 exemplares de planctônicos, com um total de 167 táxons. Tanto os foraminíferos bentônicos quanto os planctônicos estiveram presentes em todas as amostras analisadas. Foram identificados 84 gêneros de foraminíferos bentônicos representados por 157 táxons. Os bentônicos que apresentaram maior frequência relativa foram Amphistegina sp, Cassidulina laevigata, Siphonina pulchra e Peneroplis carinatus. Em relação aos planctônicos foram identificados sete gêneros representados por 10 espécies. As espécies planctônicas com maior frequência foram Globigerinoides conglobatus, G. ruber, G. trilobus, Globorotalia menardii e Globigerina bulloides. Os 18 pontos de amostragem da área de estudo estão predominantemente localizados em ambientes bioclásticos, com exceção de dois pontos que estão localizados próximos ao canyon do rio São Francisco, que é um ambiente siliciclástico. Em relação ao índice de equitatividade, os táxons identificados em cada uma das amostras apresentam uma tendência à homogeneidade nas 18 amostras. Os resultados obtidos trazem o conhecimento inédito sobre a composição dos foraminíferos que ocorrem ao longo do talude continental superior da costa do Estado de Sergipe. Os dados são compatíveis aos encontrados por outros autores em diferentes regiões da costa do nordeste brasileiro. Foi possível revisar, a partir de diversas literaturas, algumas mudanças taxonômicas dos foraminíferos a nível genérico e específico.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, 1992.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 213-216).
by Xiaoming Wang.
Ph.D.

The steep continental slopes of the southern Celtic shelf have long been thought to be a major export region for the flux of sediment from the south west approaches to the deep ocean (47-49°). Recent studies have suggested that the transfer of energy from the large barotropic tidal currents to internal tides, and higher frequency internal waves is locally enhanced, and provides a mechanism for the re-suspension and downslope transport of bed material on the upper slope region. This material is thought to be preferentially transported at the head of the many submarine canyons that exist along these ocean margins, where the barotropic tidal currents are locally amplified and internal wave energy focused. A unique 23 day deployment of the benthic lander STABLE (Sediment Transport and Boundary Layer Equipment) in July 1990, was at a depth of 388m on La Chapelle Bank continental slope. The site was at the head of a canyon, and at a depth thought to be critical for the generation of internal tidal energy. It was also at the deep water end of a transect of two current meter moorings across the slope. These measurements have shown that during summer stratified conditions the barotropic and baroclinic tides are sufficiently energetic near to the bed to mobilise the sand/gravel sized sediment on the upper slopes and at the shelf break. Eulerian residual bottom currents and maximum tidal currents are orientated cross-slope and this has important implications for sediment transport. The shelf break is predicted to be a region of bed load parting with bedload transport shelfwards at the shelf break and downslope immediately oceanward. On the critical slope region peaks in suspended sediment concentration occur at times of locally enhanced maximum down-slope flow (40cmsˉ¹) and maximum current shear. This suggests that sediment is being eroded from the bed locally and confirms a net flux of material downslope. Above the boundary layer suspended particulate matter will be transported with the net flow of water which is predominantly along-shelf and polewards. A second 10.4 day deployment of STABLE (II) in January 1994 was at a depth of 879m on the Goban Spur. These observations demonstrated the variability of continental slope processes on the margins of the Celtic shelf. During the deployment, weaker tidal currents (maximum of 24cmsˉ¹) were orientated along-slope and there was no evidence to suggest that the fine cohesive sand/mud sized sediment was mobile. Current meter measurements show that any suspended material will be predominantly transported along-slope and poleward. This will be periodically reversed and the net flux will be equatorward. The two studies have highlighted the temporal and alongslope variability of geological and hydrodynamical conditions near to the bed and highlight the difficulties in estimating shelf-ocean fluxes of material across the whole of the north-west European continental margin.

Internal waves in the ocean are the principal generators of mixing in the abyssal ocean and regions of rough topography. The present research work diagnoses the influence of internal wave activity over the Continental slope in the Gulf of Cadiz. Mediterranean Outflow (MOW) and North Atlantic Central Water (NACW) are the main baroclinic flows over the study region and diapycnal mixing acts in each layer. Semi-diurnal internal tides and a continuous MOW flow are observed on the slope. The MOW flow is persistent reaching >0.40 ms-1, but varies in strength with the tides. The Internal wave field in the Gulf of Cadiz can play an important role affecting the MOW signal over the continental slope; MOW can be displaced by the internal tide. Internal waves are generated by tides and MOW flow interacting with the bottom, the two most energetic sources locally. Also MOW bottom stress provides strong diapycnal mixing, providing well-mixed conditions in the MOW. Internal tides can transfer energy on the slope and can cause turbulence. A critical slope characteristic for semidiurnal internal waves occurs over the continental slope with local background stratification where MOW travels as an undercurrent. Diapycnal mixing is found to be enhanced inside the MOW with a diapycnal diffusivity O(7x10-4 m2s-1), and at the MOW-NACW interfaces, reaching O(2x10-4 m2s-1) for the upper interface and O(5x10-4 m2s-1) for the lower interface. Fine-structure methods are used to estimate mixing using CTD measurements; however most of the records came from temperature profiles (XBTs) and an alternative approach to diagnose the strain uses temperature profiles with inferred salinity (using temperature-salinity relations from the CTDs). Applying the strain method using temperature with inferred salinity profiles provides a plausible approximation of the strain spectrum and the mixing estimates, with uncertainties similar to those diagnosed using CTD measurements. Mixing estimates are also diagnosed using a large scale box model, where a salinity budget is applied to study gain and loss over the Gulf of Cadiz. Box model results confirm that salinity is diapycnally transferred from the MOW layers into the neighbouring NACW layers. The advective and diffusive transfers of salt along the layer are much larger than the diapycnal transfer. The inferred diffusivities from the box model are broadly in accord with the estimates from strain.

Previous pulse-chase experiments have revealed a wide diversity of benthic response patterns to organic matter (OM) input depending on environmental setting, benthic community structure and experimental conditions i.e. quantity and quality of the added OM.  However, the mechanisms and interaction of environmental and biological factors that produce an observed response pattern are poorly understood. The present thesis set out to improve our current understanding on the set of parameters that determine benthic response patterns.  The core of this study was based on two pulse-chase experiments in two bathyal settings: the Faroe-Shetland Channel (FSC) and the SW Cretan slope in the E. Mediterranean (E. Med).  The sub-zero temperatures in the FSC enabled the observation of the benthic response in “slow-motion” and showed that the response is not static but instead might go through various “phases”.  In the warm E. Med, C processing rates were considerably lower compared to previous measurements in adjacent regions.  The discrepancy was attributed to the particularly refractory sedimentary OM at the sampling station with apparent consequences for the physiological state of the bacterial community.  Both experiments showed that bacterial metabolism and its regulation is a key factor determining the reaction of the benthic community to OM inputs.  This thesis provided further understanding on the short-term fate of organic C in deep-sea sediments but also raised certain issues that could be addressed in future studies.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides an opportunity for qualifying coastal signatory states to claim extended maritime estate. The opportunity to claim rests on the precept that in certain cases a continental shelf extends beyond the traditionally demarcated two hundred nautical mile (200M) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) mark. In these cases a successful claim results in states having sovereign rights to the living and non-living resources of the seabed and subsoil, as well as the sedentary species, of the area claimed. Where the continental shelf extends beyond the 200M mark, the Foot of the Continental Slope (FoS) has to be determined as one of the qualifying criteria. Article 76 of UNCLOS de nes the FoS as ". . . the point of maximum change in the gradient at its base." Currently Caris Lots is the most widely used software which incorporates public domain data to determine the FoS as a step towards defining the offshore extent of an extended continental shelf. In this software, existing methods to compute the FoS are often subjective, typically involving an operator choosing the best perceived foot point during consideration of a two dimensional profile of the continental slope. These foot points are then joined by straight lines to form the foot line to be used in the desk top study (feasibility study). The purpose of this thesis is to establish a semi-automated and mathematically based three dimensional method for determination of the FoS using South African data as a case study. Firstly, a general background of UNCLOS is given (with emphasis on Article 76), including a brief discussion of the geological factors that influence the characteristics of a continental shelf and thus factors that could influence the determination of the FoS. Secondly, a mathematical method for determination of the surfaces of extremal curvature (on three dimensional data), originally proposed by Vanicek and Ou in 1994, is detailed and applied to two smooth, hypothetical sample surfaces. A discussion of the bathymetric data to be used for application introduces the factors to be taken into account when using extensive survey data as well as methods to process the raw data for use. The method is then applied to two sets of gridded bathymetric data of differing resolution for four separate regions around the South African coast. The ridges formed on the resulting surfaces of maximum curvature are then traced in order to obtain a foot line definition for each region and each resolution. The results obtained from application of the method are compared with example foot points provided by the subjective two dimensional method of computation within the Caris Lots software suite. A comparison of the results for the different resolutions of data is included to provide insight as to the effectiveness of the method with differing spatial coarseness of data. Finally, an indication of further work is provided in the conclusion to this thesis, in the form of a number of recommendations for possible adaptations of the mathematical and tracing methods, and improvements thereof.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Verenigde Nasies se Konvensie oor die Wet van die See (UNCLOS) bied 'n geleentheid aan kwalifiserende state wat ondertekenaars van die Konvensie is om aanspraak te maak op uitgebreide maritieme gebied. Die geleentheid om op uitgebreide gebied aanspraak te maak berus op die veronderstelling dat 'n kontinentale tafel in sekere gevalle tot buite die tradisioneel afgebakende 200 seemyl eksklusiewe ekonomiese zone (EEZ) strek. In sulke gevalle het 'n suksesvolle aanspraak die gevolg dat die staat soewereine reg oor die lewende en nie-lewende bronne van die seevloer en ondergrond verkry, sowel as die inwonende spesies van die gebied buite die EEZ waarop aanspraak gemaak word. Die voet van die kontinentale tafel (FoS) moet vasgestel word as een van die bepalende kriteria vir afbakening van die aanspraak waar die kontinentale tafel tot buite die EEZ strek. Artikel 76 van UNCLOS defineer die FoS as ". . . die punt van maksimale verandering in die helling by sy basis." Die mees algemeen gebruikte rekenaar sagteware wat openbare domein data aanwend om die voet van die helling te bepaal, is tans "Caris Lots." Die metodes wat in die program gebruik word om die voet van die helling te bepaal, is dikwels subjektief en berus tipies op 'n operateur se keuse van die beste afgeskatte punt van die voet van die helling uit 'n oorweging van 'n twee dimensionele profiel van die kontinentale tafel. Die berekende voet-punte word dan deur middel van reguit lyne verbind om 'n hellingsvoetlyn te vorm. Hierdie voetlyn kan dan in die Suid-Afrikaanse lessenaarstudie (doenlikheidstudie) oor die bepaling van die voet van die kontinentale tafel gebruik word. Die doel van hierdie verhandeling is om 'n semi-outomatiese en wiskundig gebaseerde drie-dimensionele metode te beskryf vir die vasstelling van die FoS, deur as 'n gevallestudie van Suid-Afrikaanse data gebruik te maak. 'n Algemene agtergrond van UNCLOS, met beklemtoning van Artikel 76, word eerstens gegee. 'n Kort bespreking van die geologiese faktore wat die kontinentale tafel beïnvloed en wat gevolglik 'n invloed kan hê op die vasstelling van die voet van die helling, is ingesluit. Tweedens word 'n wiskundige metode, wat oorspronklik in 1994 deur Vanicek en Ou voorgestel is, vir bepaling van die oppervlaktes van maksimale kromming (gebaseer op drie-dimensionele data) in detail bespreek en 'n voorbeeld van 'n toepassing op twee gladde, denkbeeldige oppervaktes word beskryf. Die faktore wat in ag geneem moet word wanneer omvattende dieptemeting data gebruik word, en die metodes wat gebruik word om die rou data te verwerk, word ingelei deur 'n bespreking van die aard van die dieptemeting data wat gebruik is. Die metode word dan toegepas op twee stelle geruite dieptemeting data van verskillende resolusies vir vier afsonderlike streke om die Suid-Afrikaanse kus. Die riwwe wat op die resulterende oppervlaktes van maksimale kromming gevorm word, word dan nagetrek ten einde 'n lyndefinisie van die voet van die kontinentale tafel vir elke streek teen elke resolusie te bepaal. Die resultate verkry uit toepassings van die metode word vergelyk met hellingsvoetpunte soos bepaal deur die subjektiewe twee dimensionele berekeningsmetode in die "Caris Lots" rekenaar-program. 'n Vergelyking van die resultate vir die verskillende data resolusies word ingesluit om die doeltreffendheid van die metode met betrekking tot die hantering van verskillende ruimtelike data resolusies te ondersoek. 'n Aanduiding van verdere werk, bestaande uit 'n aantal aanbevelings vir moontlike aanpassings en verbeterings van die wiskundige en natrek metodes, word ten slotte in die gevolgtrekking van die verhandeling verskaf.

Les glissements de terrains sous-marins, même de petite taille, représentent un risque majeur d’érosion littorale et de submersion marine lorsqu’ils sont déclenchés à proximité des côtes. Ce fut le cas à Nice (France) avec l’effondrement en mer d’une partie de la plateforme aéroportuaire, suivit d’un tsunami du fait d’un glissement sous-marin en octobre 1979. Du fait que la pente continentale niçoise soit abrupte, à proximité des côtes et soumise à une activité sismique modérée, elle constitue un véritable laboratoire naturel pour l’étude des glissements sous-marins de petite échelle. Ce travail repose sur une approche multidisciplinaire permettant une étude globale des processus de glissement dans la zone proximale. Il intègre des données issues de la géophysique marine, de la sédimentologie de la géotechnique et une phase préliminaire de modélisation numérique. Pour la première fois, la morphologie ainsi que l’architecture des dépôts du delta du Var ont été investigués à partir de données de très haute résolution. Elles ont permis d’identifier la signature de nombreux processus gravitaires de petite taille en surface (morphologie / taille / répartition spatiale) ainsi que leur imbrication en profondeur. Dans le cas du glissement de 1979, des éléments encore inconnus ont été identifiés tels que : 1) ses cicatrices Est et Ouest ; 2) des blocs et paquets glissés non évacués ; 3) la surface de glissement en profondeur ; 4) l’estimation d’un volume total déplacé différent du volume de sédiments évacués. Les carottes sédimentaires ont ensuite permis de discuter de la répartition en zone proximale des dépôts/érosion et de l’enregistrement de paléoglissement à partir de l’état de surconsolidation des dépôts. L’activité des glissements a été estimée dans le temps. Les plus grands glissements (V > 106 m3) ont des fréquences estimées ~50 ans, les glissements de taille moyenne (105 < V < 106 m3) autour de 3 à 25 ans, et les nombreux petits glissements (V < 105 m3) tous les 1-2 mois à 5 ans au cours des périodes actives des 50 dernières années. Ces glissements sont enregistrés dès la zone proximale à des fréquences de 3-7 ans au cours des périodes de plus forte activité depuis 400 ans. L’évolution de la morphologie suit des cycles successifs de déclenchement/quiescence/rechargement. À l’échelle de temps humaine deux cycles s’étendent de 1967-1999 et de 1999-2011 ; les ruptures se regroupent en cluster de 5-10 ans. À l’échelle pluriséculaire, les clusters de turbidites durent 20-40 ans et les périodes de quiescence ~100 ans. Enfin, cette étude apporte de nouvelles contraintes à propos des facteurs déclenchants ou préconditionnants agissant sur le delta du Var. L’état de stabilité de la zone semble être fortement préconditionné par la complexité de la topographie, l’état de consolidation des sédiments et l’importance des apports sédimentaires du Var. L’architecture des dépôts semble principalement contraindre la profondeur des instabilités. Parmi les forçages externes connus sur la zone, nous avons cartographié l’extension de la zone riche en gaz ainsi que des panaches de fluides dans la colonne d’eau. Notre analyse montre que l’amplitude des précipitations, des crues et du niveau de la nappe alluviale seraient trop faibles au cours des 50 dernières années pour agir en tant que facteur déclenchant de manière isolée. Afin de déstabiliser les pentes, ces forçages semblent devoir être couplés entre eux ou associés à l’action de séismes. Les analyses des bases de données en lien avec l’activité des glissements ainsi que les tests numériques permettent de suggérer que la sismicité régionale et que les séismes historiques sont soit 1) de magnitude trop faible, soit 2) à de trop grandes distances des zones de déclenchement, pour générer des PGA assez fort (0,2 g) et avoir individuellement un impact sur les pentes du Delta
Small submarine landslides, when triggered near the coast represent a major coastal hazard due to erosion of the coastline and marine submersion. In October 1979, a submarine landslide generated a part of the airport platform of Nice (France) to collapse at sea and provoked a tsunami. Because the continental slope off this region is abrupt, close to the coast and subject to moderate seismic activity it is a natural laboratory to study small-scale submarine mass movements processes. This work is based on a multidisciplinary approach allowing a global study of landslide processes in the source area. It integrates data from marine geophysics, sedimentology, geotechnics and numerical modelling. For the first time morphology and architecture of the Var delta deposits are investigated using very high resolution data. It allows identification of numerous small-size gravitational processes signatures as well as their embedding at depth. In the case of the 1979 landslide previously unknown features are identified: 1) eastern and western scars, 2) in-situ blocks and lateral spreading’s traces, 3) in-depth sliding surface, 4) estimation of a total displaced volume, which is different from the evacuated sediment volume. The sedimentary cores are then used to discuss the proximal distribution of deposits, erosion and paleo-landslides records from the deposits overconsolidation. The landslide activity has been estimated over time in terms of return frequencies. The largest landslides (>106 m3) have return frequencies nearing 50 years; the medium-size landslides (105 > V > 106 m3) between 3 and 25 years; and the numerous small landslides (<105 m3) every 1-2 months to 5 years during the most active periods in the last 50 years. Landslides deposits recorded in the source area show return frequencies of 3-7 years during periods of greater activity over the last 400 years. The morphology’s evolution follows successive cycles of sliding/quiescence/reloading. In recent times, two main cycles can be observed (from 1967 to 1999 and from 1999 to 2011) during which triggering are clustered in 5-10 years. On a longer time scale, the turbidites clusters span 20-40 years and quiescence periods ~100 years. Finally, this study brings new constraints on preconditioning and triggering factors acting on the Var delta. The stability of the area seems to be strongly conditioned by the complexity of the topography, the sediments consolidation and the quantity of sediments brought by the Var river. The deposits architecture mainly constrains the depth of the instabilities. Among the external drivers known in the area the extension of the gas-rich zone as well as fluids plumes in the water column have been considered and mapped. Looking at other external drivers, the analysis shows that the magnitude of rainfall and floods, and the alluvial water level would be too low over the past 50 years to act as an isolated triggering factor. In order to destabilize slopes, these external drivers need to be tackled together or associated to earthquakes. Relationships between databases analyses, landslides activity and numerical tests suggest that regional seismicity and historical earthquakes are either too small or too distant from the source areas to generate sufficient peak ground acceleration (0.2 g) and to have an individual impact on the delta slopes

The circulation along the south coast of Western Australia was examined using field data and numerical modelling. Physical processes in this region, particularly along the continental shelf and slope regions, were poorly understood due to a paucity of field measurements. Data were collected during a research cruise on RV Southern Surveyor (04/2006) during April 2006 consisting of 18 CTD transects from Twilight Cove (126oE) to Cape Leeuwin (115oE) and was augmented by shipborne ADCP data. The field data set provided a detailed understanding of three major current systems: Leeuwin Current (LC), Leeuwin Undercurrent (LU) and Flinders Current (FC). The LC along the south coast exhibits different characteristics when compared to that along the west coast. The LC flows into the colder and lower salinity subantarctic environment of the south coast. This is evident in a strong geopotential gradient off the south-west corner of Australia (Cape Leeuwin) resulting in rapid acceleration of the LC as it reaches a maximum velocity in this region. Numerical modelling studies, using the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) indicated that wind stress is an important component of the dynamics in this region. This was identified when comparing summer and winter conditions when the winds act in opposite directions, from north-westerly to southeasterly respectively. Along the shelf break and slope, the Flinders Current (FC) interacts with LC. As the dominant current, the FC serves both as a surface and as an undercurrent, transporting sub Antarctic mode water (SAMW). This interconnection the FC and LU can be seen clearly from the salinity, temperature and velocities within the depth range 200-700m postulating a connection between subsurface waters off Tasmania (origin of the Flinders Current) and the tropical Indian Ocean through the Flinders and Leeuwin Undercurrents.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1986.
Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science
Includes bibliographies.
by Stephen Atherton Swift.
Ph.D.

Internal waves exist everywhere in stratified fluids - fluids whose density changes with depth. The two largest bodies of stratified fluid are the atmosphere and ocean. Internal waves are generated from a variety of mechanisms. One common mechanism is wind forcing over repeated sinusoidal topography, like a series of hills. When modeling these waves, linear theory has been employed due to its ease and low computational cost. However, recent research has shown that non-linear effects, such as boundary layer separation, may have a dramatic impact on wave generation. This research has consisted of experimentation on sloped, sinusoidal hills. As of yet, no experimental research has been done to characterize internal wave generation when repeated sinusoidal hills lie on a sloped surface such as a continental slope or a foothill. In order to perform this experiment, a laboratory was built which employed the synthetic schlieren method of wave visualization. Measurements were taken to find wind speed, boundary layer thickness, and density perturbation. From these data, an analysis was performed on wave propagation angle, wave amplitude, and pressure drag. The result of the analysis shows that when wind blows across a series of sloped sinusoidal hills, fluid becomes trapped in the troughs of the hills resulting in a lower apparent forcing amplitude. The generated waves contain less energy than linear predictions. Additionally, the sloped hills produce waves which propagate at an angle away from the viewer. A necessary correction, which shifts from the reference frame of the observer to the reference plane of the waves is described. When this correction is applied, it is shown that linear theory may only be applied for low Froude numbers. At high Froude numbers, the effect of the boundary layer is great enough that the wave characteristics deviate significantly from linear theory predictions. The analyzed data agrees well with previous studies which show a similar deviation from linear theory.

Continental slopes support highly diverse ecosystems, influenced by strong environmental depth-related gradients, but many fundamental aspects of ecosystem dynamics remain poorly understood. Emerging evidences show that human-driven pressures are a primary reason for rapid and unpredictable changes on deep-sea ecosystems. For this reason, it is important to understand the ecological drivers behind community dynamics to improve our ability for a sustainable use and to mitigate impacts. In a multidisciplinary context, I aimed to explore aspects of continental slope ecosystem functioning, including trophic ecology, community structure and function, and potential human-induced perturbations. I used stable isotope analysis to investigate ecological drivers explaining demersal fish community structure between 500 and 2000 m water depth on the North East Atlantic (Scottish and Irish) continental slope. I show that community-level predator prey mass ratios are invariant along a strong environmental gradient and between feeding behaviours. Results also suggest that body size is responsible for a large proportion of the isotopic niche areas and revealed the effect of increasing depth in resource partitioning, with an indication of a divergent energy supply pathways. Finally, I assessed the present status of an important deepwater vulnerable marine ecosystem in the Porcupine Seabight (NE Atlantic). The Porcupine Seabight was surveyed extensively between 1977 and 1986 and was revisited in 2011 to compare the spatial coverage and size distributions of hexactinellid sponges (Pheronema carpenteri) as an indicator for trawling impact. I found that deep-sea sponge aggregations (a) are still present in the Porcupine Seabight, and (b) do appear to be vulnerable to / under threat from deep-water trawl fishing. In conclusion, it is shown that isotope-type metrics may be powerful proxies to understand community structure and a useful tool to improve ecosystem-based models. Results here present are suggestive that changes in benthic nutrient cycling communities can affect secondary production of deepwater fish communities. Given the vulnerability of deepwater fauna, it is imperative to outline priorities for conservation as a response to environmental and human disturbances threating deep-sea biodiversity.

Temperate mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sediments and authigenic minerals are the current surficial deposits at shelf and slope depths (30-1015 m water depth) on the north Kaipara continental margin (NKCM) in northern New Zealand. This is the first detailed study of these NKCM deposits which are described and mapped from the analysis of 54 surficial sediment samples collected along seven shorenormal transects and from three short piston cores. Five surficial sediment facies are defined from the textural and compositional characteristics of this sediment involving relict, modern or mixed relict-modern components. Facies 1 (siliciclastic sand) forms a modern sand prism that extends out to outer shelf depths and contains three subfacies. Subfacies 1a (quartzofeldspathic sand) is an extensive North Island volcanic and basement rock derived sand deposit that occurs at less than 100-200 m water depth across the entire NKCM. Subfacies 1b (heavy mineral sand) occurs at less than 50 m water depth along only two transects and consists of predominantly local basaltic to basaltic andesite derived heavy mineral rich (gt30%) deposits. Subfacies 1c (mica rich sand) occurs at one sample site at 300 m water depth and contains 20-30% mica grains, probably sourced from South Island schists and granites. Facies 2 (glauconitic sand) comprises medium to fine sand with over 30% and up to 95% authigenic glauconite grains occurring in areas of low sedimentation on the outer shelf and upper slope (150-400 m water depth) in central NKCM. Facies 3 (mixed bryozoan-siliciclastic sand) consists of greater than 40% bryozoan skeletal material and occurs only in the northern half of the NKCM. Facies 4 (pelletal mud) occurs on the mid shelf (100-150 m water depth) in northern NKCM and comprises muddy sediment dominated by greater than c. 30% mixed carbonatesiliciclastic pellets. Facies 5 (foraminiferal mud and sand) contains at least 30% foraminifera tests and comprises two subfacies. Subfacies 5a consists of at least 50% mud sized sediment and occurs at gt400 m water depth in southern NKCM while subfacies 5b comprises gt70% sand sized sediment and occurs at mid to outer shelf and slope depths in the northern NKCM. vi A number of environmental controls affect the composition and distribution of NKCM sediments and these include: (1) variable sediment inputs to the NKCM dominated by inshore bedload sources from the south; (2) northerly directed nearshore littoral and combined storm-current sediment transport on the beach and shelf, respectively; (3) offshore suspended sediment bypassing allowing deposition of authigenic minerals and skeletal grains; (4) exchange between the beach and shelf producing similar compositions and grain sizes at less than 150 m water depth; and (5) the episodic rise of sea level since the Last Glaciation maximum approximately 20 000 years ago which has resulted in much sediment being left stranded at greater depths than would otherwise be anticipated. Sedimentation models developed from other wave-dominated shelves generally do not appear to apply to the NKCM sediments due to their overall relative coarseness and their mosaic textural characteristics. In particular, the NKCM sediments do not show the expected fining offshore trends of most wavedominated shelf models. Consequently, sandy sediments (both siliciclastic and authigenic) are most typical with mud becoming a dominant component in southern NKCM sediments only at greater than 400 m water depth, over 350 m deeper than most models suggest, a situation accentuated by the very low mud sediment supply to the NKCM from the bordering Northland landmass.

Analyses of 13 sediment cores and 2800 km of 3.5 kHz seismic profiles reveal that the majority of the sediments on the Labrador continental slope was deposited by hemipelagic settling and ice-rafting (53%), debris flows (7%) and turbidity currents (34%) during the Wisconsinan Glaciation. Only minor amounts (6%) are attributed to contour current activity and related processes. Eight sedimentary facies were differentiated which include (1) hemipelagic (H); (2) hemipelagic (HI) with ice-rafted detritus (IRD); (3) debris-flow deposits (subfacies D1, D2, D3), spill-over turbidite (T), headspill turbidite (TH), turbidite (TI) alternating with IRD; and (4) contourite (C) and nepheloid-flow deposits (N).
Six major glacial advances were identified in Mid- to Late-Wisconsinan (64-10 ka) slope sediments by 6 very dark hemipelagic units containing abundant sinistral-coiling, cold-water foraminifera. The associated ice-retreat phases are characterized by the occurrence of turbidites, debris-flow deposits, nepheloid-flow deposits, and ice-rafted debris (IRD).

The distribution and relative abundance of Western Australian shelf and upper slope (<570 m) fish assemblages were assessed over a 16° latitudinal range using Baited Remote Underwater Stereo-Video Systems. I observed distinctive fish assemblages with covariates such as latitude, depth, salinity, current direction and speed, consolidated or unconsolidated bottom and the presence or absence of sponge best explaining the differences. At a smaller spatial scale benthic biota, depth and seabed relief were important covariates.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
Esta pesquisa foi realizada no talude continental da regiÃo de Camocim, a 80 km do continente. Seu objetivo principal foi caracterizar o testemunho SIS-134, coletado a uma profundidade de 1350 m, quanto a textura, cor, composiÃÃo quÃmica e mineralogia, na busca de auxiliar na classificaÃÃo dos sedimentos das zonas submersas. Os estudos foram baseados em referencial bibliogrÃfico e utilizadas metodologias de anÃlise geoquÃmica e caracterizaÃÃo dos argilominerais por tÃcnicas de DRX e fluorescÃncia de raios-X. A geologia do talude continental faz parte da margem passiva, tendo sua evoluÃÃo ocorrida no perÃodo de rifteamento da bacia oceÃnica, sendo modelado pela atuaÃÃo do tectonismo, das variaÃÃes do nÃvel mÃdio do mar, da deposiÃÃo fluvial, das marÃ, correntes oceÃnicas, ondas, entre outros. Houve predominÃncia de sedimentos lamosos em todas as seÃÃes analisadas, com teores variando de 75,3% a 90,8%, sendo o menor valor encontrado na base do testemunho, indicando que a Ãrea compÃe um ambiente de baixa energia onde se depositam somente os sedimentos de granulometria mais fina. Os argilominerais encontrados correspondem aos grupos da esmectita, caulinita e ilita. Os valores de ilita foram de 42,36% no topo, 51,32% no meio e 60,9% na base do testemunho, o que pode indicar que no passado houve uma maior influÃncia da aÃÃo fluvial na sedimentaÃÃo deste ambiente. A esmectita obteve nas seÃÃes topo, meio e base, teores de 12,06%, 1,09% e 4,9% respectivamente. A caulinita se apresentou no testemunho com teores de 45,58%, 47,59% e 34,2% respectivos a topo, meio e base. Na composiÃÃo quÃmica do testemunho, foi verificada a predominÃncia de CaO3, seguido de SiO3, Al2O3, e Fe2O3, que reforÃa a influÃncia da sedimentaÃÃo continental do talude. O teor de CaO3 se apresentou elevado em quase todo o testemunho, sendo os maiores valores encontrados nas seÃÃes topo e meio com 95,2% e os menores valores foram encontrados na base do testemunho com 40,5% e 57,1%. O teor de matÃria orgÃnica variou de 7,03% a 36,21%, que se justifica pela baixa energia e lenta deposiÃÃo do ambiente. Os resultados geraram uma maior base nos estudos sobre o mar profundo e sua dinÃmica
This research was conducted on the continental slope of Camocim region, 80 km from the mainland. Its main objective was to characterize the core SIS-134, collected at a depth of 1350 m, about the texture, color, chemical composition and mineralogy, in search of help to classify the sediments of submerged areas. The studies were based on literature references and used methodologies for geochemical analysis and characterization of clay by XRD and X-ray fluorescence techniques. The geology of the continental slope is part of the passive margin, and its evolution occurred during the rifting of the ocean basin, being modeled by the action of plate tectonics, the variations of the mean sea level, fluvial deposition, the tides, ocean currents, waves, among others. There was a predominance of muddy sediments in all sections analyzed, with levels ranging from 75.3% to 90.8%, the lowest value found in the bottom of the core, indicating that the area comprises a low energy environment where is deposited only sediment of finer grain size. The clay minerals found correspond to groups of smectite, kaolinite and illite. Values were 42.36% illite the top, in the middle 51.32% and 60.9% on the basis of the core, which may indicate that in the past there was a strong influence of a river environment. The smectite in the sections got the top, middle and base levels of 12.06%, 1.09% and 4.9% respectively. The kaolinite is presented in the core at levels of 45.58%, 47.59% and 34.2% respective to the top, middle and base. In the chemical composition of the core, there was a predominance of CaO3, followed by SiO3, Al2O3, Fe2O3, and that reinforces the influence of the continental slope sedimentation. The content CaO3 appeared high in almost all the testimony, and the highest values found in the top and middle sections with 95.2% and the lowest values were found at the base of the core with 40.5% and 57.1%. The organic matter content, which ranged from 7.03% to 36.21% is explained by the slow deposition and low energy environment. The results generated a higher based on studies of the deep sea and its dynamics

This thesis presents a numerical exploration of the dynamics governing rotating flow driven by a surface stress in the " sliced cylinder " model of Pedlosky & Greenspan (1967) and Beardsley (1969), and its close relative, the " sliced cone " model introduced by Griffiths & Veronis (1997). The sliced cylinder model simulates the barotropic wind-driven circulation in a circular basin with vertical sidewalls, using a depth gradient to mimic the effects of a gradient in Coriolis parameter. In the sliced cone the vertical sidewalls are replaced by an azimuthally uniform slope around the perimeter of the basin to simulate a continental slope. Since these models can be implemented in the laboratory, their dynamics can be explored by a complementary interplay of analysis and numerical and laboratory experiments. ¶ In this thesis a derivation is presented of a generalised quasigeostrophic formulation which is valid for linear and moderately nonlinear barotropic flows over large-amplitude topography on an f-plane, yet retains the simplicity and conservation properties of the standard quasigeostrophic vorticity equation (which is valid only for small depth variations). This formulation is implemented in a numerical model based on a code developed by Page (1982) and Becker & Page (1990). ¶ The accuracy of the formulation and its implementation are confirmed by detailed comparisons with the laboratory sliced cylinder and sliced cone results of Griffiths (Griffiths & Kiss, 1999) and Griffiths & Veronis (1997), respectively. The numerical model is then used to provide insight into the dynamics responsible for the observed laboratory flows. In the linear limit the numerical model reveals shortcomings in the sliced cone analysis by Griffiths & Veronis (1998) in the region where the slope and interior join, and shows that the potential vorticity is dissipated in an extended region at the bottom of the slope rather than a localised region at the east as suggested by Griffiths & Veronis (1997, 1998). Welander's thermal analogy (Welander, 1968) is used to explain the linear circulation pattern, and demonstrates that the broadly distributed potential vorticity dissipation is due to the closure of geostrophic contours in this geometry. ¶ The numerical results also provide insight into features of the flow at finite Rossby number. It is demonstrated that separation of the western boundary current in the sliced cylinder is closely associated with a " crisis " due to excessive potential vorticity dissipation in the viscous sublayer, rather than insufficient dissipation in the outer western boundary current as suggested by Holland & Lin (1975) and Pedlosky (1987). The stability boundaries in both models are refined using the numerical results, clarifying in particular the way in which the western boundary current instability in the sliced cone disappears at large Rossby and/or Ekman number. A flow regime is also revealed in the sliced cylinder in which the boundary current separates without reversed flow, consistent with the potential vorticity " crisis " mechanism. In addition the location of the stability boundary is determined as a function of the aspect ratio of the sliced cylinder, which demonstrates that the flow is stabilised in narrow basins such as those used by Beardsley (1969, 1972, 1973) and Becker & Page (1990) relative to the much wider basin used by Griffiths & Kiss (1999). ¶ Laboratory studies of the sliced cone by Griffiths & Veronis (1997) showed that the flow became unstable only under anticyclonic forcing. It is shown in this thesis that the contrast between flow under cyclonic and anticyclonic forcing is due to the combined effects of the relative vorticity and topography in determining the shape of the potential vorticity contours. The vorticity at the bottom of the sidewall smooths out the potential vorticity contours under cyclonic forcing, but distorts them into highly contorted shapes under anticyclonic forcing. In addition, the flow is dominated by inertial boundary layers under cyclonic forcing and by standing Rossby waves under anticyclonic forcing due to the differing flow direction relative to the direction of Rossby wave phase propagation. The changes to the potential vorticity structure under strong cyclonic forcing reduce the potential vorticity changes experienced by fluid columns, and the flow approaches a steady free inertial circulation. In contrast, the complexity of the flow structure under anticyclonic forcing results in strong potential vorticity changes and also leads to barotropic instability under strong forcing. ¶ The numerical results indicate that the instabilities in both models arise through supercritical Hopf bifurcations. The two types of instability observed by Griffiths & Veronis (1997) in the sliced cone are shown to be related to the western boundary current instability and " interior instability " identified by Meacham & Berloff (1997). The western boundary current instability is trapped at the western side of the interior because its northward phase speed exceeds that of the fastest interior Rossby wave with the same meridional wavenumber, as discussed by Ierley & Young (1991). ¶ Numerical experiments with different lateral boundary conditions are also undertaken. These show that the flow in the sliced cylinder is dramatically altered when the free-slip boundary condition is used instead of the no-slip condition, as expected from the work of Blandford (1971). There is no separated jet, because the flow cannot experience a potential vorticity " crisis " with this boundary condition, so the western boundary current overshoots and enters the interior from the east. In contrast, the flow in the sliced cone is identical whether no-slip, free-slip or super-slip boundary conditions are applied to the horizontal flow at the top of the sloping sidewall, except in the immediate vicinity of this region. This insensitivity results from the extremely strong topographic steering near the edge of the basin due to the vanishing depth, which demands a balance between wind forcing and Ekman pumping on the upper slope, regardless of the lateral boundary condition. The sensitivity to the lateral boundary condition is related to the importance of lateral friction in the global vorticity balance. The integrated vorticity must vanish under the no-slip condition, so in the sliced cylinder the overall vorticity budget is dominated by lateral viscosity and Ekman friction is negligible. Under the free-slip condition the Ekman friction assumes a dominant role in the dissipation, leading to a dramatic change in the flow structure. In contrast, the much larger depth variation in the sliced cone leads to a global vorticity balance in which Ekman friction is always dominant, regardless of the boundary condition.

The clay mineral composition of sediments deposited in the last six oxygen isotope stages in the Gulf of Mexico continental slope was characterized. Smectite and illite were found to be the two major clay minerals of the clay fraction while kaolinite, chlorite and quartz were present in the clay fraction but in less proportions. Variations in clay mineral abundances, especially in the relative abundances of smectite and illite, were identified in relation to climate changes. Smectite was the most abundant mineral in sediments of the current (stage 1) and last interglacial maxima (stage 5) while illite dominates the clay min-eralogy of sediments from the last glacial maximum (stage 2). Relationships between clay mineralogy and physical properties were investigated as well. Significant positive correla-tions were found between Atterberg limits with the smectite content of the bulk sediment and with clay content. However, the relationship with smectite yielded a significantly higher correlation coefficient. Smectite and clay content also affect the natural water con-tent of sediments and its changes with depth.

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Seventeen-month time series (May 1989 - October 1990) of current, temperature and conductivity were obtained from 100, 300 and 500 m depth at site P2, located on the 800 m isobaths off Point Sur, and one-year time series (May 1990 - May 1991) of the same variables at similar depths were obtained from site P3, approximately 25 km father offshore on the 1800 m isobath. Results show that no net growth or decay of eddy potential energy (EPE) occurred at wither mooring during their respective deployment periods. At mooring P2, baroclinic instabilities within the water column were signaled by downgradient horizontal eddy heat fluxes that converted mean potential energy (MPE) to EPE at both 225 and 425 m. The dominant balance at 225 m was between mean flow advection (source) and upward eddy heat fluxes (EPE to eddy kinetic energy, EKE), with additional losses coming from downstream advection by the eddy flow. At 425 m, the dominant balance was between downgradient eddy heat fluxes (source) and downstream advection by eddy flow (sink). Unlike 225 m, vertical eddy heat fluxes at 425 m were a weak source (EKE to EPE) while mean flow advection was negligible. At P3, the net balance involved only downward eddy heat fluxes (source) and downstream advection by eddy flow (sink), as mean advection and MPE-EPE conversions were negligible. Analysis of energetic events within the time series of terms in the EPE equation did not reveal any canonical or common pattern which would explain the temporal means described above, but suggest the flow in this region is highly variable. In fact, most events magnitudes of terms were anywhere from 1o to 200 times that of the associated temporal mean. Events at P2 involved both horizontal and vertical processes and had longer time scales (several days to weeks) compared to those at P3, which had much shorter time scales and appeared to involve vertical processes only.

Bibliography: pages 45-55.
Eleven gravity cores from the continental margin off Eire and Land's End (SW England) were examined and found to document the major trends of the Late Pleistocene climate. Several stratigraphic indicators; - carbonate content, sediment texture, grain size, composition, nature of terrigenous components, ice-rafted debris and foraminiferal diversity were examined and show that the glacial history of the study area can be closely correlated with the palaeoclimatic evolution of the adjacent European shelf. Sediments deposited during Late Pleistocene glacial conditions show the following characteristics when compared to the surface sediments deposited under Holocene interglacial conditions: an increase in the quantity of ice-rafted debris and percentage of mica, and a notable increase in the degree of frosting and pitting of the quartz grains. Overall grain size was finer resulting in a silty sediment package. Sedimentologically the cores fall into two groups (1 and 2). The major difference being that Group 1 (located on the Pendragon Escarpment) received increased quantities of fine silts from a 'shelf spill-over' mechanism operating on the Fastnet and Western Approaches Basins, during glacial regressions. All sediment samples displayed polymodal characteristics reflecting the interaction of several different physical processes e.g. ice-rafting, contour currents etc. Striking variations in the populations of planktonic foraminifera were noted, alternating between Arctic and Sub-Arctic assemblages, reflecting the waxing and waning of glacial activity. The coccolith-carbonate minima correlate with the Arctic-fauna maxima and the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O maxima of the oxygen-isotope curves. Foraminiferal-test analysis (ratio of whole foraminifera fragmented foraminifera) revealed that no correlation existed with any of the other parameters analysed. However, the cores were severely affected by the presence of bottom currents which were strong enough to remove the fragmented tests. Parallellaminated contourites and evidence of erosion were noted in all cores. Ten cores penetrated sediments deposited during the last glacial maximum of 20,000 B.P - 18,000 B.P. near the 75cm depth mark (Core 1865 was too short to reach such sediments). However sediments reflecting the 11,000 B.P glacial readvance, detected at around the 25cm mark, were not as clearly represented. Bioturbation has smoothed the climatic record throughout the lengths of these cores and has also suppressed the high-frequency oscillations (<10³ B.P).

Work on sound production of deep-sea fishes has been limited to anatomy, and no sounds from identified species have been recorded on the continental slope. Here I examined the sonic muscles of six species in the family Macrouridae by depth (Coelorhincus carminatus, Nezumia bairdii, Coryphaenoides rupestris, Nezumia equalis, Coryphaenoides armatus, Coryphaenoides carapinus,). Due to increasingly limited food with depth, I hypothesized that sonic muscle development would decrease with depth. Sonic muscles were intrinsic and occurred in males and females. Swimbladder and sonic muscle dimensions increased linearly with fish size, but there were no clear differences with depth suggesting sound production remains important in deeper species.

In the past couple of decades, the discovery that iron is a limiting nutrient in large regions of the ocean has spurred much research into characterizing the biogeochemical controls on iron cycling. While Fe(II) is soluble at circumneutral pH, it readily oxidizes to Fe(III) in the presence of oxygen. Fe(III) is highly insoluble at circumneutral pH, presenting organisms with a bioavailability paradox stemming from the physiological challenge of using a solid phase mineral for assimilatory or dissimilatory purposes. Interestingly, dissolved organic-Fe(III) complexes can be stable in seawater in the presence of oxygen, and an active flux of these complexes has recently been measured in estuarine sediments. Their sources and biogeochemical role, however, remain poorly understood. In this work, a suite of field and laboratory techniques were developed to quantify diagenetic processes involved in the remineralization of carbon in marine sediments in situ, investigate the role of these organic-Fe(III) complexes in sediment biogeochemistry, and characterize the composition of the ligands possibly involved in the solubilization of Fe(III) in marine sediments. The first-of-its-kind in situ electrochemical analyzer and HPLC was used to better constrain diagenetic processes that may lead to the formation of dissolved organic-Fe(III) complexes in the Altamaha estuary and Carolina slope. An intensive study of the Satilla River estuary reveals that dissimilatory iron-reduction contributes to the formation of sedimentary organic-Fe(III) complexes, which are demonstrated to serve as an electron acceptor in subsequent incubations with a model iron-reducing microorganism. Similar observations in deep-sea slope and abyssal plain sediments fed by the Mississippi and Congo Rivers suggest that dissimilatory iron reduction may represent an important component of carbon remineralization in river-dominated ocean margin sediments that may be currently underestimated globally. To confirm that these organic-Fe(III) complexes are produced during microbial iron reduction, novel separation schemes were developed to extract and identify Fe(III)-binding ligands from sediment pore waters. Preliminary results reveal the presence of a few select low-molecular weight compounds in all pore waters extracted, suggesting they might be endogenous ligands secreted by iron-reducing bacteria to non-reductively dissolve Fe(III) minerals prior to reduction.

In the northern Gulf of Mexico, seafloor hydrocarbon fluid and gas seepage is an ubiquitous process on the continental margin. Although seafloor seepage and seep-related features (mud volcanoes, carbonate formation) have been studied for many years, little is known about their mechanisms of formation and the relationship of sub-surface structure to current seep activity. In this study, we examined three seafloor seeps in the Garden Banks and Mississippi Canyon areas using exploration and reprocessed 3D multi-channel seismic (MCS) data augmented with side-scan sonar (Garden Banks site) to characterize hydrocarbon seep activity and develop an understanding of the processes that led to their formation. Side-scan sonar data provided high resolution coverage of the seafloor while the exploration seismic data were used to image near and deep sub-surface features. Additionally, the 3D amplitude extraction maps were useful in delineating amplitude anomalies often associated with seep related activity. The reprocessed 3D seismic data were used to map in greater detail near seafloor features and amplitude anomalies. Using remote sensing geophysical data, we were effectively able to map sub-surface features such as salt topography, seep-related faults and geophysical indicators of hydrocarbons and correlate them with seafloor amplitude anomalies and fault traces in order to characterize seep activity level. The southern mud volcano in the Garden Banks site is characterized as an established high flux seep vent owing to signs of active seepage and sediment flows as well as the build-up of hard grounds. The northern mud volcano in the area, with greater hard ground build-up and fewer signs of active seepage represents an established low flux seep vent. In the Mississippi Canyon area, the data suggest that the seep mound can be characterized as a mature high flux vent due to the extensive build-up of hard ground, evidence of gas hydrates and signs of active seepage and sediment flows. The mechanisms of formation are similar between the two study sites. Upwelling salt appears to have fractured the sub-surface leading to the formation of fault induced depressions. Mapping of geophysical indicators of hydrocarbons implies that hydrocarbon migration is occurring along bedding planes to the fault systems underlying the depressions. Here they appear to migrate vertically to the seafloor creating the topographic features and seafloor amplitude anomalies that characterize the seeps

At the Castle Creek study area, exceptionally well exposed strata of the Isaac Formation (Neoproterozoic Windermere Supergroup) crop out over a strike length of 4 km. This ~ 1 km-thick succession of continental slope deposits consist of six channel complexes (ICC1-ICC6) composed of three main architectural elements: mass transport deposits (MTDs), channel, and overbank deposits. Together, these elements stack in a repeating and systematic pattern that illustrates periodic forcing on the system related to the combined effect of long- and short-term changes in relative sea level that controlled the development of the continental shelf, and ultimately, the make up of the sediment resedimented into the deep-marine system. Understanding these stacking patterns in ancient slope systems and the conditions under which they formed, is important for assessing regional and potentially global changes in ancient climate and eustasy.

Foram estudadas a composição e a distribuição da abundância e da biomassa de grupos do microzooplâncton na plataforma e no talude da Bacia de Campos localizados na região sudeste da margem continental do Brasil, compreendida entre Vitória (20,5°S) e Cabo Frio (24°S). Foram coletadas amostras de microzooplâncton com rede Multinet de 64 ?m por meio de arrastos horizontais em cinco estratos de profundidade (do superficial ao batipelagial até 2300 m) e em dois períodos: período um (P1) março-abril/2009 e período dois (P2) agosto-setembro/2009. A abundância total variou de 1 a 56918 org./m³ no P1 e de 80 a 206732 org./m³ no P2, enquanto a biomassa total variou entre 2x10-5 e 2 mg/m³ no P1 e de 6x10-6 a 5 mg/m³ no P2. Os grupos taxonômicos mais frequentes (> 50% Frequência realtiva) no P1 foram Radiolaria, Tintinnina, Foraminifera, náuplios de Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Calanoida, Gastropoda, Pteropoda e Bivalvia. Já no P2 foram: Acantharia, Radiolaria, Tintinnina, Foraminifera, náuplios de Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Calanoida, Harpacticoida, Gastropoda, Bivalvia e Polychaeta. Os náuplios de Copepoda dominaram nasuperfície, com 65% de abundância relativa no P1 e P2, ao passo que organismos do protozooplâncton, como Radiolaria, Tintinnina e Foraminifera, foram os mais abundantes em águas profundas. Houve diferenças na abundância e na biomassa em resposta às variações ambientais, espaciais e sazonais na Água Tropical (AT-1 m) e Água Central do Atlântico Sul (ACAS-250 m). Estas variações podem estar relacionadas à ascenção de águas profundas ricas em nutrientes da ACAS até a zona eufótica, o que leva ao aumento de produtividade e ao aumento da produção primária em domínios neríticos da região, associado à frequente ocorrência de vórtices ciclônicos associados à Corrente do Brasil. Porém, nos estratos mais profundos (Água Intermediária Antártica (AIA-800 m), Água Circumpolar Superior (ACS-1200 m) e Água Profunda do Atlântico Norte (APAN-2300 m)), notou-se homogeneidade horizontal do microzooplâncton, associada à maior estabilidade termohalina. No entanto, vale ressaltar que os altos valores de Radiolaria nas águas profundas poderiam estar condicionados às características físicas e químicas da ACS. Neste trabalho foi possível concluir que a abundância e a biomassa do microzooplâncton foram maiores na camada superficial e na ACAS, devido as flutuações de temperatura e salinidade. Notou-se também uma variabilidade entre os períodos de coleta. A temperatura foi a variável que mais influenciou as concentrações de organismos, em contraste, a baixa flutuação da salinidade na Bacia de Campos não influenciou significativamente os grupos do microzooplâncton. Os dados da AIA, ACS e APAN obtidos neste trabalho são fundamentais para o conhecimento do ambiente meso e batipelagial ao longo do Brasil. Finalmente, a FlowCAM, utilizada para a análise semiautomática das amostras, foi uma ferramenta útil para a contagem e obtenção de informações morfométricas sobre o microzooplâncton.
The composition and the distribution of numerical abundance and biomass of microzooplankton groups were sutudied in the Campos Basin located southeastern Brazil, between Victoria (20.5°S) and Frio Cape (24°S). Microzooplankton samples were collected with horizontal hauls using a Multinet (64 ?m) in five depth layers (surface up to 2300m bathypelagial zone) and in two seasonal periods: Period one (P1) May, April - 2009 and Period two (P2) August, September - 2009 (HABITATS CENPES / PETROBRAS). The total abundance ranged from 1 to 57 Org/m³ during the P1 and from 80 to 207 Org/m³ during the P2. Total biomass ranged from 2x10-5 to 2 mg/m³ during the P1, and from 6x10-6 to 5 mg/m³ during the P2. Most frequent taxonomic groups (> 50% relative frequency) in P1 were Radiolaria, Tintinnina, Foraminifera, Copepod nauplii, Cyclopoida, Calanoida, Gastropoda, Pteropoda, and Bivalvia. In P2, the most frequent taxonomic groups were Acantharia, Radiolaria, Tintinnina, Foraminifera, Copepod nauplii, Cyclopoida, Calanoida, Harpacticoida, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, and Polychaeta. Copepod nauplii dominated the surface samples, with 65% of relative abundance during both periods; Radiolaria, Tintinnina and Foraminifera dominated the deep water samples. There were differences in the abundance and biomass in response to environmental, spatial and seasonal variationsn the Tropical Water (TW-1 m) and in the South Central Atlantic Water (SCAW-250 m), These variations may related tothe rise of nutrient-rich deep waters of the SCAW to the euphotic zone, which leads to the increase of the productivity and the increase of the primary production in neritic areas, linking it to the frequent occurrence of cyclonic vortices associated with Brazil Current. In the deepest layers Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW-800 m), Upper Circumpolar Water (UCW-1200 m) and North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW-2300 m) it was noted a horizontal homogeneity of the microzooplankton associated with thermohaline stability. However, it is noteworthy that the high values of Radiolaria in deep water could be conditioned by the physical and chemical characteristics of the UCW. It was possible to conclude thatthe abundance and biomass of microzooplankton were higher in the surface layer and SCAW, f due to climatic fluctuations of temperature and salinity.. The temperature was the variable that most influenced the concentrations of organisms; in contrast, the low salinity fluctuations in the Campos Basin had no significant influence on the groups of microzooplankton. The data from AAIW, UCW, and NADW obtained in this work are fundamental for the understanding of the mesopelagical and bathypelagical zones in the Brazilian oceanic waters. Finally the FlowCAM used for semi-automatic analysis of samples was a useful tool for counting and obtaining information about the morphometric microzooplankton.

Technological development and increased availability of remotely operated vehicles and manned submersibles have significantly increased accessibility to deep environments revealing the presence of rich and diverse macrobenthic assemblages dominated by suspension feeders. These assemblages have been largely exposed to the impacts of fishing activities (especially bottom trawling) in the Mediterranean Sea. Consequently, it is currently urgent to increase knowledge on their distribution, as well as on the ecology and biology of the main species that constitute these macrobenthic assemblages in order to implement effective management and conservation measures. This thesis addressed the characterization of macrobenthic assemblages in the continental shelf and upper slope (40-360 m depth) of the Menorca Channel through a multidisciplinary approach at different ecological levels. Six macrobenthic assemblages mainly segregated by substrate and depth. Hard substrates hosted sponge grounds and coral gardens, whereas crinoid and brachiopod beds occurred on soft sediments. Highest diversity values were found in the shelf edge, probably as a consequence of the bottom heterogeneity and the constant hydrodynamic conditions. Gorgonians were one of the most important and diverse bioengineering organisms in the Menorca Channel, forming dense assemblages that extended over vast areas. Gorgonian assemblages on the continental shelf and upper slope were mostly monospecific, whereas shelf edge assemblages were highly multispecific. Small colonies were dominant throughout the studied bathymetric range, but in deeper environments intermediate and large colonies were more abundant. The good preservation state of most of the observed benthic assemblages and gorgonian populations is probably related to the low pressure of bottom trawling which is mostly concentrated in deeper areas of the continental slope. Paramuricea macrospina is the most abundant gorgonian species in the Menorca Channel. Throughout its distribution, three different chromatic forms were observed. Two forms occurred on the continental shelf, and a third occurred on the shelf edge. Colony shape, sclerite size and shape, and the genetic variability of mitochondrial markers were compared to elucidate if these chromatic forms represented different taxonomic units. Colony morphology barely changed among the three forms resulting as a high conservative character. Conversely, sclerite size and shape significantly differed amongst the three forms, possibly conditioned by genetic and environmental factors. However, no significant differences were observed in the studied mitochondrial markers. The reproductive cycle, energy storage and metabolic requirements of P. macrospina showed significant differences compared to Mediterranean coastal gorgonians. Its reproductive cycle was delayed 2¿3 months respect to shallow species, possibly following the late summer increase in seawater temperature occurring on the Mediterranean continental shelf. Moreover, internal brooding in P. macrospina contrasts with surface brooding in the congeneric Paramuricea clavata. Lipid content was lower and more constant in P.macrospina than in shallow species, and d13C and d15N composition showed almost no seasonal variation, suggesting that food availability in the continental shelf is lower but more constant than in shallower environments. The high oligotrophic conditions of the Balearic Sea apparently contrasts with the high abundance and diversity of active and passive suspension feeders observed in the Menorca Channel. Indeed, the downward particle fluxes quantified during two consecutive years in the Menorca Canyon were comparatively low within the Mediterranean context, reflecting the oligotrophic nature of the study area and the lack of continental inputs of particulate matter. Hydrodynamic settings and resuspenion appear to control TMF.
Les millores tecnològiques i la major disponibilitat de vehicles operats remotament i submains tripulats han incrementat l'accessibilitat a entorns profunds, revelant la presència associacions d'organismes bentòniques riques i diverses, dominades per suspensívors. Aquestes agregacions han estat altament impactades per la pesca al Mediterrani. És urgent incrementar el coneixement, sobre la distribució d'aquestes associacions i aspectes claus de la biologia i ecologia de les principals espècies que les constitueixen per tal d'establir mesures de conservació efectives. En aquesta tesi es caracteritzen les associacions bentòniques de la plataforma i talús continentals del Canal de Menorca a través d'una aproximació multidisciplinària a diferents nivells ecològics. S'han identificat sis associacions bentòniques diferents, que es diferencien principalment pel tipus de substrat i el rang batimètric. En els substrats durs s'hi ha trobat fons d'esponges i coralls, en els fons tous s'hi han trobat camps de crinoïdeus i braquiòpodes. Al marge continental s'hi concentren la diversitat més elevada, probablement resultant de l'heterogeneïtat ambiental i l'hidrodinamisme d'aquest entorn. Al Canal de Menorca les gorgònies són un dels organismes bioenginyers més importants i diversos, formant denses agregacions sobre amplies zones. Les agregacions de gorgònies a la plataforma i part superior del talús eren principalment monoespecífiques, mentre que les del marge continental eren multiespecífiques. Les colònies petites eren les més abundants al llarg de tot el rang batimètric. Tot i així, en entorns profunds les colònies mitjanes i grans incrementaven la seva abundància. El bon estat de les associacions bentòniques i les poblacions de gorgònies probablement resulta de la baixa pressió del ròssec, que es concentra a major fondària. Paramuricea macrospina és la gorgònia més abundant del Canal de Menorca. Al llarg de la seva distribució batimètrica es varen observar tres variants cromàtiques diferents. Dues es varen trobar a la plataforma i una tercera es trobà al marge continental. Per tal d'esbrinar si les diferents variants eren unitats taxonòmiques diferents s'han estudiat la forma colonial, la variabilitat de tamany i formes dels esclerits així com la variabilitat en marcadors mitocondrials. Es va detectar molt poca variabilitat en la morfologia colonial de les tres variants, suggerint que és un caràcter conservatiu. El tamany i la morfologia dels esclerits diferia significativament entre les tres variants, suggerint que estan influenciats per factors ambientals i genètics. No es varen trobar diferències entre els tres marcadors mitocondrials. S'ha avaluat el cicle reproductor, l'acúmul energètic i les necessitats metabòlics de P. macrospina. El cicle reproductiu d'aquesta espècia està retardat respecte les espècies de gorgònia mediterrànies somes. Aquesta situació podria sorgir de l'augment tardà de la temperatura de l'aigua a la plataforma continental mediterrània. El fet que P. macrospina sigui una internal brooder contrasta amb que Paramuricea clavata sigui una surface brooder. El contingut lipídic de P. macrospina és més baix però més constant que el d'espècies somes mediterrànies. D'altra banda la composició de la d13C i la d15N gairebé nos presentaven fluctuacions estacionals. Suggerint que la disponibilitat d'aliment a la plataforma és més baixa però més constant que en entorns somers. Al marge sud del Canal de Menorca hi trobem el Canyó de Menorca. Tot i l'elevada oligotròfia del mar Balear, les associacions d'organismes bentònics a la capçalera del canyó i proximitats són d'una elevada riquesa. S'ha avaluat el flux de partícules durant dos anys consecutius al canyó. Els fluxos recollits eren comparativament inferiors que els registrats en d'altres canyons mediterranis, reflectint la manca d'aportacions continentals. Els processos, de resuspensió i diferents paràmetres hidrodinàmics, semblen controlar el TMF.

Natural hydrocarbon seeps harbor distinctive geological, chemical, and biological features in the marine environment. This thesis verified remote sensing signatures of seeps using in-situ observation and repeated collections of satellite imagery. Bubble streams in the Gulf of Mexico water column from four natural seep sites on the upper continental slope were imaged by a side-scan sonar, which was operated from a submarine near the seafloor, and by acoustic profilers, which were operated from surface ships. These data were correlated with sea surface slicks imaged by Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) on the RADARSAT satellite. Comparing non-oily bubble streams from rapidly venting mud volcanoes with oily bubble streams from shallow deposits of gas hydrate showed that they produced notably different signatures. Non-oily bubbles produced high backscatter on the side-scan sonar records, but were difficult to detect with the acoustic profilers. Oily bubbles from hydrate deposits produced acoustic shadows on the side-scan sonar records. The oily bubbles generated clear signatures extending from the seafloor to the near surface on the acoustic profile records. RADARSAT SAR images verified the presence of surface oil slicks over the hydrate deposits, but not over the mud volcanoes. This indicates that SAR imagery will not be able to capture every oil and gas seep in a region because non-oily bubble streams do not create surface oil slicks. A total of 113 natural oily seep sources were identified based on surface slicks in eleven SAR images collected over the northern continental slope. A persistence analysis verified that SAR is a dependable tool for capturing oil slicks because 93.5% of the slick sources identified in the 2001 images were corroborated with slicks in the 2002 images. The sources ranged in depth from 100 to 2000 m and 79% of the sources were in 900 meters or greater of water. Seventy-six percent of the seep sources were associated with salt less than 1500 m below the seafloor and none of the sources were located in the bottom of salt withdrawal basins. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) proved to be a useful tool in these analyses.

Deepwater clastic deposits of the Late Miocene Isongo Formation, located 50 km northwest of Bioko Island, characterize a sand-rich transient fan system developed in response to incipient structural growth on the continental slope. Approximately 1200 ft (366 m) of conventional core, 21 wells, 3-D seismic (maximum 40-60 Hz), biostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and dynamic production data from the 100 km 2 study area are used to: (1) Define process-based sedimentological facies within the Isongo Fan; (2) Characterize porosity and permeability trends at three temporal and spatial scales; (3) Identify sedimentary bodies throughout cored and uncored intervals; and (4) Correlate stratigraphic sequences within a framework of adjustment, initiation, growth and retreat (AIGR). While the former two objectives capture small-scale geologic heterogeneities developed at the time of deposition, the latter two describe changes in fan geomorphology during coeval uplift and sedimentation. Fifteen core-defined sedimentological facies reflect subaqueous depositional processes including turbidity currents, debris flows and pelagic settling. Pore space generated during deposition is correlated to grain size; pore connectivity is correlated to sorting. Sedimentation units and facies assemblages, which characterize depositional processes operating during a single sedimentation event, show patterns of accumulative flow in the confined, narrow portion of the Isongo Fan; depletive flow in the unconfined, southwestern portion. Erosional slope channel-levee systems in the northeast demonstrate very large sedimentation events, likely due to eruptive activity and uplift of Mount Cameroon 50 km updip. Partly confined to unconfined distributary channel-lobe systems in the southwest characterize a change in fan geomorphology off the flank of a growing structure. Core-calibrated petrophysical facies and wireline log thicknesses allow identification of sedimentary bodies in uncored intervals throughout the Isongo Fan, a 2.3 million year episode of sand-rich deposition (3rd order sequence). High frequency 4th and 5th order sequences are used to describe changes in fan morphology over time relative to the growing anticline. A surface of adjustment marks the onset of syn-sedimentary growth, followed by 4th order phases of initial deposition that onlap the structure. Sandrich fan growth, however, is greatest during a period of minimal uplift, followed by retreat of the Isongo depocenter to the north. Post-Isongo deposits suggest that renewed anticline growth resulted in avulsion of the system to the northwest after 8.2 Ma. 'Co-authored by Michael H. Gardner and W. Sebastian Bayer.'

Includes bibliographical references.
Changes in circulation and productivity in the southeastern South Atlantic Ocean over the last 850 kyr are investigated through the multiproxy study of two giant piston cores, MD962080 and MD962084, retrieved from the Agulhas Bank and Olifants River continental slopes of South Africa. The stable oxygen isotope record of the benthic foraminifer, Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi, and the planktonic taxon, Globorotalia inflata, provide the stratigraphic framework from which the age models were created. The results indicate that biotic responses to surface hydrological changes in the study area are complex and involve both high- and low-frequency variations.

Orientador: Otto Bismarck Fazzano Gadig
Resumo: A raia elétrica cega Benthobatis kreffti é endêmica do Altântico Sul Ociedental e apresenta distribuição restrita desde o sul até o sudeste Brasileiros, ocorrendo em profundidades entre 400 e 600 m. Apesar de seu extremo endemismo, sua biologia é virtualmente desconhecida, especialmente no que diz respeito à porção norte de sua distribuição. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a estrutura populacional e biologia reprodutiva desta espécie, no talude continental do estado de São Paulo. Os indivíduos foram capturados em julho e agosto de 2003 e dezembro de 2007 no cruzeiro científico Soloncy Moura, o qual operou em 492-501 m de profundidade entre os municípios de Santos e Cananéia. Quanto à composição de captura, B. kreffti foi o condricte mais capturado, seguido por Gurgesiella dorsalifera. Os demais foram Hydrolagus matallanasi, Dipturus sp. e Torpedo, sp. Quanto à estrutura em tamanho, fêmeas diferem de machos por apresentarem maiores comprimentos (máximo de 299 mm em fêmeas e 256 mm em machos). A razão sexual total foi diferente de 1:1, bem como para indivíduos adultos. Nos outros estágios de maturidade considerados (imaturo e em desenvolvimento), não houve diferença significativa. A relação comprimento-peso e o tamanho onde 50% da população encontra-se maduro (LT50) também foram diferentes entre os sexos, em favor das fêmeas. Fêmeas apresentaram LT50 de 191 mm enquanto machos maturam em 176 mm. A fecundidade uterina foi de três embriões por fêmea, com embriões nascendo en... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)
Abstract: The blind electric ray Benthobatis kreffti is endemic to the South West Atlantic and has a restricted distribution, from south and southeast Brazil, occurring in 400-600 m depth. Despite its endemism, its biology is virtually unknown, especially concerning the north extreme of its distribution. For this reason, the aim of this work was to study the population structure and reproductive biology of B. kreffti off São Paulo State continental slope. Individuals were captured in July and August of 2003 and December 2007 during the scientific cruise Soloncy Moura, operating in 492-501 m depth between Santos and Cananéia municipalities. Benthobatis kreffti was the most captured chondrichthyan, followed by Gurgesiella dorsalifera. Other chondrichthyan captured were: Hydrolagus matallanasi, Dipturus sp and Torpedo sp.. Concerning size structure, females were larger than males (females: 299 mm; males: 256 mm total length). Total sex ratio was different from 1:1, as well as for adult individuals. At other maturity stages considered (immature and developing), no differences were observed. The length-weight relationship and size at 50 % maturity (LT50) were also different between sexes, biased toward females. Female´s LT50 was 191 mm, while in males, LT50 was 176 mm total length. Uterine fecundity was three embryos/ female, with size at birth estimated in 90-100 mm total length (about1/3 of the total length recorded for this species).
Mestre

The ecological forces that drive community structure of deep-sea benthic communities are poorly understood, yet such communities rival in biological complexity those of coral reefs or rainforests. Using components of the recently concluded DGoMB project, local and regional-scale structure of benthic macrofaunal communities were examined at thirty two locations throughout the continental slope of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Controlling factors associated with sediment disturbance, food supply, and faunal competition between functional ecological groups were evaluated for correlative and relational patterns. A higher order taxonomic sufficiency approach was used to calculate both alpha and beta diversity. The results of this study indicate that macrofaunal communities are very patchy, having wide variations in abundance at within-site, adjacent-site, and across-basin scales, yet all sample areas possess a large richness of higher taxa. Declining abundance was noted with increasing water depth and reduced particulate organic carbon levels. Upper-slope submarine canyons possess some of the highest abundances. Less mobile macrofauna, such as poriferans, bivalves, and scaphopods, dominate slope communities above the 500 meter contour. Sediments exhibiting intense megafaunal bioturbation inhibit abundances of sedentary macrofaunal taxa, but such mixing is positively associated with increased abundances of polychaetes and ambulatory crustaceans, including peracarids, harpacticoids, and ostracods. Prominent sediment mixing was noted at most sites, including portions of the Sigsbee Abyssal Plain. The western Gulf of Mexico was less biologically active than the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which possesses two extensive submarine canyons that appear to act as regional nutrient traps. I conclude that the physiographic complexity of the northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope influences macrofaunal community structure. Biological disturbance, in the form of sediment mixing, is widespread throughout most slope depths, and the benthic environment is food-limited. It appears that disequilibrium-type ecological processes predominate in this area, supporting similar findings by previous studies in other regions of the ocean, usually at far smaller scales and none representative at the basin-level. Use of higher order taxonomy in lieu of genus or species-level faunal identifications for diversity measurements was inadequate for detecting spatial patterns or environmental responses.

This research demonstrates the impact that glaciations had on the geomorphology and sediment deposition of the NW Irish continental margin, including both sides of the Rockall Trough and the Rockall Bank. A modern hydrographic, geophysical and sedimentological approach is used to analyse and interpret new and historical datasets, including multi beam, sidescan sonar, seismic and core data. New methodologies such as CUBE and Geocoder algorithms for multi beam bathymetry and backscatter data processing, 3D visualisations, ArcGIS Spatial and Hydrological Analysis and digital X-Ray scanning are used to deliver an accurate geomorphological and sedimentological interpretation and to understand the changes that occurred in the sedimentary processes from shelf edge to basin floor since the last glaciation, through deglaciation and in the Holocene. This research demonstrates a number of correlations between glacial geomorphology observed on the continental shelf and the various geomorphological and sedimentary features observed along the NW Irish continental slope and trough. It also provides extensive evidence that the Rockall Bank was scoured by several generations of icebergs and acted as a natural barrier against which icebergs coming from the western Atlantic Ocean grounded. Near seabed geophysical investigation throughout the Irish Rockall Trough is used to classify the area into six sedimentary provinces, each characterised by different depositional processes. This also provides new evidence of previously undetected mass transport deposits and extensive fluid-migration on a wide area of the trough. Finally, the study of sediment cores along two major canyons and across the trough provides a regional perspective on the sedimentary processes that took place since the last glaciation on the north-eastern margin of the Rockall Trough. The study reveals that margin physiography, distance from the ice sheet grounding zone, style of glaciation on the shelf and strength of deep sea circulation are the main controlling factors over the depositional processes.

Abstract Background: Cusk-eels from the subfamily Neobythiitinae are one of the major groups of sound-producing fishes on the continental slope. Sounds have never been recorded from a member of this subfamily, and sonic anatomy is considered a proxy for sound production. As the first part of a study on the effects of depth on sonic anatomy, we examined three relatively shallow species from the upper continental slope. Methods: Three species (Hoplobrotula armata, Neobythites longipes and Neobythites unimaculatus) were examined for sonic anatomy (skeleton, swimbladder and sonic muscles), and sonic and epaxial muscle fibers were measured for diameter. Regressions of dimensions and weights of sonic muscles and swimbladders against fish total length and weight were compared to determine sexual dimorphism and relative development between species. Results: Four pairs of sonic muscles (two medial and two lateral) originate on the skull and insert on the medial swimbladder or on modified epineural ribs that attach to the lateral swimbladder. The medial and medial intermediate muscles are generally larger in males than females and are made of relatively small fibers (ca 10 um in diameter), and lateral muscles are generally larger in females and consist of larger fibers as in epaxial muscles. Medial muscles are considerably larger in Hoplobrotula armata than in the Neobythites species. Conclusion: Neobythitines from the upper slope have relatively well-developed sexually-dimorphic sonic systems, suggesting that males produce advertisement calls for courtship. There are major quantitative differences between species. We suggest that sound production involves tonic contraction of the large-fibered lateral muscle pair and oscillatory contractions of the smaller medial fibers setting the swimbladder into vibration. Hoplobrotula armata is probably capable of making more intense sounds than the Neobythies spp.

At the Castle Creek study area in east-central British Columbia a well-exposed section about 450 m wide and 30 m thick in the (Neoproterozoic) Isaac Formation was analyzed to document vertical and lateral changes in a succession of distinctively heterolithic strata. Strata are interpreted to have been deposited on a deep-marine levee that was sandwiched between its genetically related channel on one side and an erosional escarpment sculpted by an older (underlying) channel on the other. Flows that overspilled the channel (incident flow) eventually encountered the escarpment, which then set up a return flow oriented more or less opposite to the incident (from the channel) flow. This created an area of complex flow that became manifested in the sedimentary record as a highly tabular succession of intricately interstratified sand and mud overlain by an anomalously thick, plane-parallel interlaminated sand-mud unit capped finally by a claystone.

Amostras de sedimento foram coletadas no talude superior e médio da Bacia de Campos para avaliar a quantidade e qualidade da matéria orgânica (MO) disponíveis no ambiente. A partir de dados geoquímicos, sedimentológicos (tamanho médio de grão e razão silte/argila), e microfaunísticos foi possível identificar diferenças no aporte de MO no talude. O talude superior apresentou valores maiores de conteúdo de carbono orgânico (COT) e lipídeos, elevados valores de densidade, baixos valores de diversidade, riqueza, equitatividade, ALD10, e perfil vertical com densidades maiores, predomínio de espécies epifaunais e/ou infaunais rasos, indicando ambiente com maior produtividade primária sobre maior influência de pulsos de fitodetrito, decorrente da influência do Vórtice de Vitória transportando nutrientes para o mar profundo. Já o talude médio, apresentou menores valores de COT, lipídeos e densidade, maiores valores de diversidade, riqueza, equitatividade, ALD10, predomínio de espécies aglutinantes, indicando condições com menor aporte de nutrientes lábeis. Pelos dados microfaunísticos obtidos, o modelo TROX não pode ser aplicado no talude da Bacia de Campos como avaliador de condições tróficas possivelmente pela não inclusão de fatores como disponibilidade de MO lábil, e bioturbação que influenciam na distribuição vertical dos foraminíferos bentônicos vivos no talude superior e médio da Bacia de Campos.
Sediment samples were collected in the upper and middle slope of Campos Basin to evaluate the quantity and quality of organic matter (OM) available in the environment. From geochemical, sedimentological (grain size, ratio and silt/clay), and microfaunistic data was possible to identify differences in the contribution of OM in slope. The upper slope had higher organic carbon content (TOC) and lipids, high density values, low values of diversity, richness, evenness, ALD10, and vertical profile with higher densities, predominance of epifaunal and/or shallow infaunal species, indicating higher primary productivity environment with greater influence on the pulse of phytodetritus, due to the influence of the Vitória Eddy carrying nutrients to the deep sea. The average slope had lower TOC values, lipids and density, higher values of diversity, richness, evenness, ALD10, predominant agglutinated species, indicating conditions with lower input of labile nutrients. Microfaunistic data obtained cannot be applied by the TROX model to the upper and middle slope of Campos Basin as an evaluator of trophic conditions due to non-inclusion of factors such as availability of labile OM, and bioturbation that influence the vertical distribution of living benthic foraminifera in the upper and middle slope of Campos Basin.

Sponge assemblages dominate several distinctive, hard-bottom environments, being one of the most important structural organisms at several locations around the world. Although the Mediterranean sponge fauna is among the world's most studied, information is minimal for sponges from Mediterranean deep-sea areas compared to shallow waters, with most of the data deriving from indirect sampling methods or from by-catch specimens collected by bottom trawlers. Taking advantage of the footage and material collected during the Life + INDEMARES, ABIDES and ABRIC projects, the present thesis aims to shed light, by means of non-invasive methods, into the sponge communities occurring in two remarkable sites of the Catalano-Balearic Sea (northwestern Mediterranean Sea): The Site of Community Interest (SCI) of the Menorca Channel (Balearic archipelago), which is to become a future Marine Protected Area (MPA), and the Cold Water-Coral (CWC) communities recently discovered in the Blanes Canyon. Regarding the Menorca Channel SCI, this thesis characterized, by means of quantitative analyses of video transects, the main sponge assemblages occurring in the area, with a special focus on the geographical, bathymetrical and size-structure distribution of its most relevant habitat-forming sponge. Quantitative analysis of 85 video-transects (a total linear distance of 75 km), together with representative collections to confirm species identifications, allowed to discriminate six major assemblages, which mainly corresponded to differences in substrate type and depth. Highest sponge densities and abundances were concentrated in areas of high hydrodynamism, namely the rocky shoals offshore Cap Formentor and the Menorca Canyon’s head. Most of the studied species were dominated by small to medium size classes, suggesting pulse recruitment events. A clear depth-zonation pattern has been observed, going from the inner continental shelf to the upper slope. At the same time, the continental shelf harbored the presence of diverse and contrasting growth morphologies, yet the biggest forms occurred at the shelf edge and the upper slope. Regarding the identified assemblages, on the inner continental shelf, a semi-sciaphilous Axinellid assemblage dominated the rocky outcrops. Maërl beds on the inner continental shelf were dominated by Haliclona (Reniera) mediterranea, whereas the horny sponge Aplysina cavernicola and several other haliclonids mostly dominated maërl beds and rocky substrates of the outer shelf. Soft sediments on the shelf break hosted a monospecific Thenea muricata assemblage, whereas rocky substrates of the shelf break were characterized by a mixture of encrusting, columnar and fan-shaped sponges. Finally, the upper slope was dominated by Hamacantha (Vomerula) falcula and the hexactinellid Tetrodictyum reiswigi. This thesis highlights the presence of dense, well-preserved sponge populations in the Menorca Channel, and provides a baseline for their future monitoring once the MPA is declared, potentially serving as reference for other areas across the Atlanto-Mediterranean region. Regarding the Blanes canyon, the present thesis provides the first insight on the associated sponge fauna of its recently discovered CWC communities, while also reviewing the current knowledge of the sponge fauna dwelling in all the Mediterranean CWC provinces. In regards to the studied area, some rare species are cited for the first time in the Mediterranean or redescribed, while two of them, Hamacantha (Hamacantha) hortae and Hamigera bibiloni are new to science. At a basin scale, Mediterranean CWC appear as poriferan biodiversity hotspots, yet current diversity values on each site rather represent a small fraction of its actual fauna. Additionally, the existence of an endemic sponge fauna exclusively dwelling on CWC is refuted. Nonetheless, the sponge fauna thriving in Mediterranean CWC appears to be unique, and different from that of other Atlantic regions.
Las comunidades de esponjas dominan multitud de entornos de fondo duros, siendo uno de los organismos estructurales dominantes en varias áreas del mundo. Aunque la fauna de esponjas mediterráneas se encuentra entre las más estudiadas del mundo, la información disponible actualmente es mínima para las esponjas que se encuentran en las zonas más profundas del mediterráneo en comparación con sus aguas más someras, y la mayoría de los datos disponibles han sido obtenidos mediante métodos de muestreo indirectos o de capturas accidentales por pesquerías de fondo. Aprovechando el metraje y material recogido durante los proyectos Life + INDEMARES, ABIDES y ABRIC, la presente tesis pretende arrojar luz, mediante métodos no invasivos, sobre las comunidades de esponjas que se dan en dos áreas destacadas del Mar Catalano-Balear (mar Mediterráneo noroccidental): el Sitio de Interés Comunitario (SCI) del Canal de Menorca (archipiélago balear), que se convertirá en un futuro Área Marina Protegida (AMP), y las comunidades de corales de agua fría recientemente descubiertas en el cañón de Blanes. En cuanto al SIC del Canal de Menorca, esta tesis caracterizó, mediante análisis cuantitativos de video-transectos, las principales comunidades de esponjas de la zona, con especial énfasis en la distribución geográfica, batimétrica y estructural de las especies formadoras de hábitat más relevantes. El análisis cuantitativo de 85 video-transectos (una distancia lineal total de 75 km), junto con el análisis de especímenes para confirmar la identificación de especies, permitió discriminar seis comunidades principales, que correspondían principalmente a diferencias en el tipo de sustrato y profundidad. Las mayores densidades y abundancias de esponjas se concentraron en áreas de alto hidrodinamismo, a saber, las zonas rocosas frente a la costa del Cabo Formentor y la cabecera del Cañón de Menorca. También se observó un patrón claro de zonificación en profundidad, que va desde la plataforma continental interior hasta el talud superior. Al mismo tiempo, la plataforma continental albergaba la presencia de diversas morfologías, pero las formas más grandes ocurrieron en el borde de la plataforma y el talud. A su vez, la mayoría de las especies estudiadas estaban dominadas por individuos de tamaño pequeño a mediano, lo que sugiere eventos de reclutamiento a pulsos. En cuanto a las comunidades de esponjas identificadas, en la plataforma continental interior dominaban axinélidos semiesciáfilos que se localizaban sobre afloramientos rocosos. A su vez, los lechos de maërl en la plataforma continental interior estaban dominados por Haliclona (Reniera) mediterranea, mientras que la esponja córnea Aplysina cavernicola y varios haliclonidos dominaban principalmente los lechos de maërl y los sustratos rocosos de la plataforma exterior. Los sedimentos blandos en el borde de la plataforma albergaban una comunidad monoespecífica de Thenea muricata, mientras que los sustratos rocosos del borde de la plataforma se caracterizaron por una mezcla de esponjas incrustantes, columnares y en forma de abanico. Finalmente, la vertiente superior del talud continental estaba dominada por Hamacantha (Vomerula) falcula y la hexactinélida Tetrodictyum reiswigi. Así pues, esta tesis pone en valor la presencia de densas poblaciones de esponjas en el Canal de Menorca y proporciona la base científica para su futuro seguimiento una vez que se declare el área como AMP, pudiendo servir a su vez los datos generados como referencia para otras comunidades de esponjas que se encuentren en la región atlántico-mediterránea. En cuanto al cañón de Blanes, la presente tesis proporciona los primeros datos sobre la fauna de esponjas asociada a las comunidades de corales de agua fría (‘CWC provinces’, del inglés cold water corals) recientemente descubiertas en el área, al tiempo que revisa el conocimiento actual de la fauna de esponjas que habita en todas las ‘CWC provinces’ del Mediterráneo. En referencia a las especies encontradas en al área de estudio, algunas se citan por vez primera en el Mediterráneo o han sido redescubiertas, siendo dos de ellas, Hamacantha (Hamacantha) hortae y Hamigera bibiloni, nuevas para la ciencia. A nivel Mediterráneo, las comunidades de corales de agua fría parecen ser puntos calientes o ‘hotspots’ de biodiversidad de poríferos. Sin embargo, los valores de diversidad actuales en cada ‘CWC province’ representan más bien una pequeña fracción de su fauna espongiológica real, que muy posiblemente este infrarrepresentada en la actualidad. Además, se refuta la existencia de una fauna de esponjas endémica que habite exclusivamente en las comunidades de corales de agua fría. No obstante, la fauna de poríferos que habita en las comunidades de corales de agua fría del Mediterráneo parece ser diferente de la de otras regiones atlánticas. Con el conocimiento actual, la fauna de esponjas de las ‘CWC provinces’ mediterráneas se agrupa en tres clusters diferenciables (Mar de Alborán, Mediterráneo Occidental y Oriental), que parecen estar determinados por la circulación de las masas de agua en la cuenca, especialmente la ‘Levantine Intermediate Water’ y la ‘Atlantic Water’, y siguiendo un patrón occidental-oriental desde el Estrecho de Gibraltar hasta el mar Adriático. Finalmente, las esponjas que viven en las ‘CWC provinces’ del Mediterráneo todavía están poco exploradas, pero parecen ser buenas candidatas para estudios biogeográficos.
Les comunitats d'esponges dominen en multitud d'entorns marins de fons durs, essent considerats com un dels organismes estructurals principals de dites comunitats en diverses àrees del món. Encara que la fauna d'esponges mediterrànies es troba entre les més ben estudiades del món, la informació disponible actualment és mínima per a les esponges que es troben en les zones més profundes del mediterrani en comparació amb les seves aigües més someres, i la majoria de les dades disponibles fins a avui en dia han estat obtingudes mitjançant mètodes de mostreig indirectes o bé de captures accidentals per pesqueres de fons. Aprofitant el metratge i material recollit durant els projectes Life + INDEMARES, ABIDES i ABRIC, la present tesi pretén aportar llum, mitjançant mètodes no invasius, sobre les comunitats d'esponges que es donen en dues àrees destacades de la Mar Catalano-Balear (mar Mediterrani nord-occidental): el Lloc d'Importància Comunitària (LIC) del Canal de Menorca (arxipèlag balear), que ha d’esdevenir en un futur pròxim una Àrea Marina Protegida (AMP), i les comunitats de coralls d'aigua freda recentment descobertes en el Rec de Blanes. En quant al LIC del Canal de Menorca, aquesta tesi va caracteritzar, mitjançant anàlisis quantitatiu de vídeo-transsectes, les principals comunitats d'esponges de la zona, amb especial èmfasi en la distribució geogràfica, batimètrica i estructural de les espècies formadores d'hàbitat més rellevants. L'anàlisi quantitatiu de 85 vídeo-transsectes (una distància lineal total de 75 km), juntament amb l'anàlisi d'espècimens per a confirmar la identificació d'espècies, va permetre discriminar sis comunitats principals, que reflectien principalment diferències en la composició del substrat i la profunditat. Les majors densitats i abundàncies d'esponges es van concentrar en àrees d'alt hidrodinamisme, a saber, les zones rocoses enfront de la costa del Cap Formentor i la capçalera del Rec de Menorca. També es va observar un patró clar de zonificació en profunditat, que va des de la plataforma continental interior fins al talús superior. Al mateix temps, la plataforma continental albergava la presència d’una major diversitat de morfologies, però les formes més grans o exuberants es concentraven en el límit de la plataforma i el talús continental. Al seu torn, l’estructura de talles de la majoria de les espècies estudiades estava dominada per individus de grandària petita i/o mitjana, la qual cosa suggereix esdeveniments de reclutament a polsos. En quant a les comunitats d'esponges identificades, en la plataforma continental interior dominaven els axinèl·lids semiesciàfils que es localitzaven sobre afloraments rocosos de la plataforma continental interior. Al seu torn, els llits de maërl de la plataforma continental interior estaven dominats per Haliclona (Reniera) mediterranea, mentre que l'esponja còrnia Aplysina cavernicola i varies ‘Haliclona’ dominaven principalment els llits de maërl i els substrats rocosos de la plataforma exterior. Alhora, els sediments tous en la vora de la plataforma albergaven una comunitat monoespecífica de Thenea muricata, mentre que els substrats rocosos de la vora de la plataforma es van caracteritzar per una mescla d'esponges incrustants, columnars i en forma de ventall. Finalment, el vessant superior del talús continental estava dominada per Hamacantha (Vomerula) falcula i la hexactinèl·lid Tetrodictyum reiswigi. Així doncs, aquesta tesi posa en valor la presència de denses poblacions d'esponges en el Canal de Menorca i proporciona la base científica per al seu futur seguiment una vegada que es declari l'àrea com AMP, podent servir al seu torn les dades generades com a referència per a altres comunitats d'esponges que es trobin a la regió atlàntomediterrània. Referent al Rec de Blanes, la present tesi proporciona les primeres dades sobre la fauna d'esponges associada a les comunitats de corals d'aigua freda (‘CWC provinces’, de l'anglès cold-water corals) recentment descobertes en l'àrea, al mateix temps que revisa el coneixement actual de la fauna d'esponges que habita en totes les ‘CWC provinces’ del Mediterrani. En referència a les espècies trobades en a l'àrea d'estudi, algunes se citen per primera vegada en el Mediterrani, sent dues d'elles, Hamacantha (Hamacantha) hortae i Hamigera bibiloni, noves per a la ciència. A nivell Mediterrani, les comunitats de corals d'aigua freda semblen ser punts calents o ‘hotspots’ de biodiversitat de porífers. No obstant això, els valors de diversitat actuals en cada ‘CWC province’ representen més aviat una petita fracció de la seva fauna espongiològica real, que molt possiblement resulta infrarepresentada en l'actualitat. A més a més, es refuta l'existència d'una fauna d'esponges endèmica que habiti exclusivament en les comunitats de corals d'aigua freda. No obstant això, la fauna de porífers que habita en les comunitats de corals d'aigua freda del Mediterrani sembla ser diferent de la d'altres regions atlàntiques. Amb el coneixement actual, la fauna d'esponges de les ‘CWC provinces’ mediterrànies s'agrupa en tres clústers diferenciables (Mar d'Alborán, Mediterrani Occidental i Mediterrani Oriental), que semblen estar determinats per la circulació de les masses d'aigua en la conca, especialment la ‘Levantine Intermediate Water’ i la ‘Atlantic Water’, i seguint un patró oest-est des de l'Estret de Gibraltar fins al Adriàtic. Finalment, les esponges que viuen en les ‘CWC provinces’ del Mediterrani encara tot i estar poc explorades, semblen ser bones candidates per a estudis biogeogràfics.
Ciències del mar

Deux campagnes océanographiques ont été réalisées en 1992 et 1993 par Ifremer and Elf Aquitaine Production, dans le golfe de Guinée, avec des prélèvements de carottes küllenberg et l'acquisition de données géophysiques par grandes profondeurs d'eau. Les essais géotechniques, réalisés au laboratoire de géotechnique de l'E. N. S. G. , ont permis une description synthétique des sédiments superficiels sur les talus continentaux du Nigeria, du Gabon et du Congo. Sur la pente continentale du Gabon, ces résultats mettent en évidence un état sous-consolidé en profondeur. Les relevés géophysiques y indiquent l'existence de figures d'expulsion de fluides et de zones de sédiments superficiels chargés en gaz. Un réflecteur acoustique profond de trente mètres est interprété comme une surface de glissement potentiel, ou le facteur de sécurité non drainé semble à un minimum. La prise en compte de la bathymétrie et des critères de stabilité ont permis une cartographie régionale du risque et une interprétation des désordres identifies par la géophysique: les résultats confirment que ces désordres correspondent à un état remanié en profondeur ou à la migration de fluides interstitiels ; nous avons calibré l'impact de différents modes d'action des fluides interstitiels sur la stabilité des sédiments. Les essais géotechniques ont donc apporté une caractérisation systématique et synthétique des sédiments prélevés dans le golfe de Guinée. La juxtaposition d'informations géophysiques et géotechniques a permis d'inventorier, de calibrer et de localiser les causes de désordres dans la zone Gabon ; toutefois, une meilleure connaissance des processus gravitaires dans cette zone passerait par l'étude locale des phénomènes identifiés et l'acquisition de mesures in situ: mesures de la fraction gazeuse, des excès de pression interstitielle et des contraintes effectives verticales

The development of two Arctic Trough Mouth Fans (TMFs), the Storfjorden and Kveithola TMFs, is investigated by means of sub-bottom and seismic reflection profiles, multibeam bathymetry and sediment samples allowing their detailed stratigraphic architecture to be defined. We find that the TMFs mainly consist of an alternation of rapidly deposited glacigenic debris flows during glacial maxima and a sequence of well-layered plumites and hemipelagic sediments, which were mainly deposited during the deglaciation phase of the adjacent glacial trough. We have identified eight units above regional reflector R1, which indicate that the ice sheet reached the shelf edge within the Storfjorden Trough on at least three occasions during the last ~200 ka. A shallow subsurface unit of glacigenic debris flows suggests that the ice sheet had a short re-advance over the northern and central part of Storfjorden after the Last Glacial Maximum. From stratigraphy, core and literature data, we estimate that ice sheets reached the shelf edge between 19.5 to 22.5 ka, 61 to 65 ka and 135 to 167 ka. Detailed seismic imaging allows us to refine the sedimentary model of Arctic TMFs. The main differences to previous models involve gully formation during not only the deglaciation phase, but also during interglacials by dense shelf water cascading, and a specific timing for the occurrence of slope failures (i.e., shortly after the deglaciation phase). High mean sedimentation rates during glacial maxima of up to 18 kg m-2 yr-1 likely allow excess pore pressure to develop in the water rich plumites and hemipelagic sediments deposited in the previous deglacial period, particularly where such plumites attain a significant thickness. Climate variations control sediment supply to the continental slope as well as glacial advances and retreats. This hypothesis has been investigated by using a combination of geophysical and geotechnical data. The results of compressibility and permeability testing are used together with margin stratigraphic models obtained from seismic reflection data, as input for numerical finite elements models to understand focusing of interstitial fluids in glaciated continental margins. BASIN software has been used to model the evolution of the Storfjorden TMF from 2.7 to 0.2 Ma. The model results show that onset of glacial sedimentation (~1.5 Ma) has a significant role in developing permeability barriers (tills) on the shelf decreasing the vertical fluid flow towards the sea floor and switching it towards the slope. Prior to 220 ka, the higher values (up to 0.6) are located below the shelf edge and in the distal area. In turn, Plaxis software has been used to perform a detailed high resolution hydrogeological model of the four glacial/inter-glacial cycles. Ice loading during Glacial Maxima caused a rapid consolidation of the shelf sediments with high fluid expulsion rates towards the shallower plumite sediments on the slope. This caused an overpressure increase inside these layers up to 0.6. The higher overpressures occurred during the Last Glacial Maximum and few thousand years after. Present day overpressures reach maximum values of 0.7 on the shelf. A detailed slope stability analysis through the Last Glacial Maximum, last deglaciation and Holocene has been carried out. Safety factor (SF) of the margin was reduced to one half due to overpressures development during the Last Glacial Maximum with minimum values of ~1.2 which were preserved through the last deglaciation. These low values occurrence match with the time when most of the landslides identified in the study are occurred. Although the safety factor values are close to the instability, mechanisms as glacio- eustatic rebound induced earthquakes can be considered as a final trigger.
L’evolució de dos ventalls glacials, Storfjorden i Kveithola, s’ha investigat fent servir dades geofísiques i mostres de sediment. D’aquesta manera s’ha pogut establir de forma detallada la seva estratigrafia. A partir de l’anàlisi estratigràfic i dades de literatura s’ha pogut establir que el gel va ocupar la plataforma continental com a mínim en tres ocasions durant els últims ~200 ka: 19.5 a 22.5 ka, 61 a 65 ka i 135 to 167 ka. A més la bona cobertura i resolució de les dades geofísiques ha permès de refinar el model d’evolució dels ventalls glacials. Les diferències més important respecte a treballs previs corresponen a que la formació de xaragalls no dóna només en els deglacials, sinó també en els interglacial degut a les aigües denses de plataforma, i també l’ocurrència de esllavissades durant la deglaciació del marge. En aquest estudi queda palès el control climàtic en la tassa de sedimentació, els sediments dipositats i els avanços i retrocessos de gel. Aquestes variacions influeixen en el patrons de fluid del subsòl i el desenvolupament de sobrepressions en els sediments. Aquesta hipòtesi ha estat investigada utilitzant models d’elements finits (BASIN i Plaxis) a partir de les dades geofísiques i assajos geotècnics. La modelització dels darrers 2.7 Ma mostra que l’inici dels períodes glacials, fa aproximadament 1.5 Ma, va promoure la formació bandes de baixa permeabilitat (tills) a la plataforma. La càrrega de gel a la plataforma durant els màxims glacials, va provocar una ràpida consolidació dels sediments subjacents i l’expulsió de l’aigua intersticial, incrementant així el flux de fluids cap al talús superior. Alhora, aquest flux focalitzat cap als sediments més permeables del talús (plumites) va incrementar dràsticament les sobrepressions. Les sobrepressions màximes van tenir lloc durant l’últim màxim glacial i els següents mil·lennis. Degut a aquestes sobrepressions, el factor de seguretat del talús es va reduir a la meitat, arribant a valors de 1.2 al final de l’últim màxim glacial. Tot i els que aquest valors són baixos, els terratrèmols provocats pel rebot glacio-eustàtic han de ser considerats com a desencadenants finals de les esllavissades identificades a la zona.