HR: 0800h
AN: H51C-0392    [Abstracts]
TI: Morphogenetic Mesoscale Analysis of the Northeastern Iberian Margin, NW Mediterranean
AU: * Amblas, D
EM: damblas@ub.edu
AF: GRC Geociencies Marines, Universitat de Barcelona, Marti i Franques s/n, Barcelona, 08028 Spain
AU: Canals, M
EM: miquelcanals@ub.edu
AF: GRC Geociencies Marines, Universitat de Barcelona, Marti i Franques s/n, Barcelona, 08028 Spain
AU: Urgeles, R
EM: roger@geo.ub.es
AF: GRC Geociencies Marines, Universitat de Barcelona, Marti i Franques s/n, Barcelona, 08028 Spain
AU: Lastras, G
EM: galderic@geo.ub.es
AF: GRC Geociencies Marines, Universitat de Barcelona, Marti i Franques s/n, Barcelona, 08028 Spain
AU: Hughes-Clarke, J E
EM: jhc@omg.unb.ca
AF: Ocean Mapping Group, University of New Brunswick, Dept. Geodesy and Geomatics Engineering, Fredericton, NB E3B5A3 Canada
AB: The compilation of several multibeam data sets unveil for the first time the seafloor of almost the entire northeastern Iberian margin, in the northwestern Mediterranean. This is achieved thanks to an international effort involving mainly Spanish and French research institutions. Submarine canyons, turbiditic channels, landslides and a mid-oceanic valley are the main sedimentary features observed. The size and shape of these features vary throughout the margin. However, the morphometric analysis performed reveals geomorphologic affinities between the features, which form different sectors sharing similar patterns. This suggests the subdivision of the margin in three main segments: North Catalan Margin (NCM), South Catalan Margin (SCM) and Ebro Margin (EM). Which are the main mechanisms controlling the morphological variability between these margins? We propose a not frequently used scale to tackle this question: the mesoscale (from one to several hundred kilometres), which allows a comprehensive, holistic and detailed analysis of the seascaping mechanisms shaping the northeastern Iberia continental margin. Preliminary results suggest that, factors controlling the seascape involve a combination of tectonics, long-term fluvial sediment flux to the margin, sediment grain size and basin depth. Modelling of these morphogenetic relationships will contribute to a better knowledge of the seascape development in mid-latitude siliciclastic margins. Funding for this research was provided by EUROSTRATAFORM (EVK3-CT-2002-00079), EURODOM (HPRN-CT-2002-00212), EUROMARGINS (ERAS-CT-2003-980409), Generalitat de Catalunya GRC grant and a Spanish MECD FPU fellowship (DA).
DE: 1824 Geomorphology: general (1625)
DE: 1862 Sediment transport (4558)
DE: 3002 Continental shelf and slope processes (4219)
DE: 3045 Seafloor morphology, geology, and geophysics
DE: 9335 Europe
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005