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| Titel |
A 5000km2 data set along western Great Bahama Bank illustrates the dynamics of carbonate slope deposition |
| VerfasserIn |
Jara S. D. Schnyder, Andrew Jo, Gregor P. Eberli, Christian Betzler, Sebastian Lindhorst, Linda Schiebel, Dierk Hebbeln, Paul Wintersteller, Thierry Mulder, Mélanie Principaud |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2014
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 16 (2014) |
| Datensatznummer |
250095403
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 EGU/EGU2014-10855.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| An approximately 5000km2 hydroacoustic and seismic data set provides the high-resolution
bathymetry map of along the western slope of Great Bahama Bank, the world’s
largest isolated carbonate platform. This large data set in combination with core
and sediment samples, provides and unprecedented insight into the variability of
carbonate slope morphology and the processes affecting the platform margin and the
slope.
This complete dataset documents how the interplay of platform derived sedimentation,
distribution by ocean currents, and local slope and margin failure produce a slope-parallel
facies distribution that is not governed by downslope gradients. Platform-derived sediments
produce a basinward thinning sediment wedge that is modified by currents that change
directions and strength depending on water depth and location. As a result, winnowing and
deposition change with water depth and distance from the margin. Morphological features
like the plunge pool and migrating antidunes are the result of currents flowing from the
banktop, while the ocean currents produce contourites and drifts. These continuous processes
are punctuated by submarine slope failures of various sizes. The largest of these
slope failures produce several hundred of km2 of mass transport complexes and
could generate tsunamis. Closer to the Cuban fold and thrust belt, large margin
collapses pose an equal threat for tsunami generation. However, the debris from margin
and slope failure is the foundation for a teeming community of cold-water corals. |
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