An Early Neogene—Early Quaternary Contourite Drift System on the SW Barents Sea Continental Margin, Norwegian Arctic

Rydningen, Tom Arne; Høgseth, Gert Vidar; Lasabuda, Amando Putra Ersaid; Laberg, Jan Sverre; Safronova, P. A.; Forwick, Matthias

doi:10.1029/2020gc009142

Cited by 14 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 89 publications

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“…The increase in mass wasting deposits related to megaslides/mass wasting may have been triggered by high sedimentation rates during the first step of glacial intensification (from ∼2.7 to 2.58 Ma), in combination with low eustatic sealevel and the presence of weak layers-contourites (Amundsen et al, 2011;Safronova et al, 2017). On the southwestern Barents Sea margin distal glaciomarine deposits prevail, interbedded with hemipelagic and/or turbiditic/contouritic deposits (e.g., Rydningen et al, 2020), cut by channels, which we relate to a glaciofluvial system developed on the shelf, in accordance with Laberg et al (2010). Apart from the northwestern Svalbard margin, we see no evidence for shelf edge glaciation on the rest of the western Svalbard-Barents Sea margin during GI period.…”

Section: Seismic Units Amentioning

confidence: 99%

A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet

et al. 2021

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Here we present a high-resolution, continuous seismostratigraphic framework that for the first time, connects the over 1,000 km long western Svalbard-Barents Sea margin and covers the last ∼2.7 million years (Ma). By exploiting recent improvements in chronology, we establish a set of reliable age fix-points from available boreholes along the margin. We then use a large 2-D seismic database to extend this consistent chronology from the Yermak Plateau and offshore western Svalbard, southwards to the Bear Island Trough-Mouth Fan. Based on this new stratigraphic framework we divide the seismic stratigraphy along the continental margin into three seismic units, and 12 regionally correlated seismic reflections, each with an estimated age assignment. We demonstrate one potential application of this framework by reconstructing the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet evolution from the intensification of the northern hemisphere glaciation at ∼2.7 Ma to the Weichselian glaciations. Through seismic facies distribution and sedimentation rate fluctuations along the margin we distinguish three phases of glacial development. The higher temporal resolution provided by this new framework, allows us to document a clear two-step onset to glacial intensification in the region during phase 1, between ∼2.7 and 1.5 Ma. The initial step, between ∼2.7 and 2.58 Ma shows glacial expansion across Svalbard. The first indication of shelf-edge glaciation is on the Sjubrebanken Trough-Mouth Fan, northwestern Barents Sea after ∼2.58 Ma; whilst the second step, between ∼1.95 and 1.78 Ma shows glacial advances beyond Svalbard to the northwestern Barents Sea. Phase 2 is characterized by variations in sedimentation rates and the seismic facies are indicative for a regional glacial intensification for the whole Barents Sea-Svalbard region with widespread shelf-edge glaciations recorded at around ∼1.5 Ma. During Phase 3, the western Barents Sea margin is characterized by a dramatic increase in sedimentation rates, inferring once again a regional glacial intensification. Our new stratigraphic framework allows for the first time differentiation of the sediments deposited on the slope during Early Saalian (∼0.4 and 0.2 Ma), Late Saalian (∼0.2 and 0.13 Ma), and Weichselian (<∼0.123 Ma) periods, providing new insights into the Barents Sea glaciations over the last ∼0.42 Ma.

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Section: Seismic Units Amentioning

confidence: 99%

A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet

et al. 2021

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“…Further to this, basins to the north of the Greenland Fracture Zone (Figure 1) report the presence of contourite deposits related to the opening of the Fram Strait in the Miocene (Døssing et al, 2016). However, drift sheets and other features of contourite deposition are unreported in the study area, although several contourite drifts are reported at the same latitude of the study area on the Norwegian side (e.g., Rebesco et al, 2013;Rydningen et al, 2020). Furthermore, previous studies have identified morphological characteristics of overbank deposition as indicative of turbidity current overspill, as opposed to contour current deposition (García et al, 2012).…”

Section: Glacial History and Palaeoceanographymentioning

confidence: 76%

Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes

Allen

Peakall²,

Hodgson³

et al. 2022

Front. Earth Sci.

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Models of the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems and their formative flow processes are predominantly based on studies from low latitude settings. Here, we integrate high-resolution seismic reflection, bathymetry and GLORIA side scan data to document the architecture and interpret the formative processes of a series of ultra-high latitude (72–76°N) submarine channel-levee systems that feed lobe complexes off the Greenland margin. We demonstrate that the sedimentary architecture of the channel-fills are dominated by vertical or near-vertical sediment accumulation, reflecting the lack of, or very limited nature of, lateral migration over time. All the Greenland channel-levee systems show significant cross-sectional asymmetry, and a peak sinuosity of 1.38, on a low gradient slope (∼0.3°). The bounding external levees are very thick (∼200 m) and wide relative to low latitude systems. Comparison of these channel-levee systems with other examples reveals that these characteristics appear to be common to systems in high and ultra-high latitudes, suggesting latitudinal controls in the sedimentary architecture of submarine channel-levee systems. The differences between high- and low-latitude systems is likely due to the interplay of physical forcing (i.e., Coriolis force) and climatic factors that control sediment calibre and flow type, both of which are latitudinally dependent. Several formative mechanisms for supressing the initial phase of lateral migration and subsequent asymmetrical development are proposed, including:i) rapid channel aggradation, (ii) Coriolis forcing causing preferred deposition on the right-hand side of the channel, and iii) variance in flow properties, with traction- and suspension-dominated flows deposited on opposing sides of the channel. We argue that a high latitudinal location of larger channel-levee systems may result in the dominance of vertical stacking of channels, the construction of large external levees, and the development of a low sinuosity planform.

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“…6a) but later on strongly increased (see 5.4). The sediment drift in the central Fram Strait is accompanied by other, mostly younger contouritic features, like mounded drift structures and sediment waves, that were documented for the eastern vicinity of the Molloy Basin (Gebhardt et al, 2014) and elsewhere along the main flow of the WSC (Mattingsdal et al, 2014;Rebesco et al, 2013;Rydningen et al, 2020).…”

Section: Onset Of Current Controlled Sedimentation During the Tortonianmentioning

confidence: 83%

A revised core-seismic integration in the Molloy Basin (ODP Site 909): Implications for the history of ice rafting and ocean circulation in the Atlantic-Arctic gateway

Gruetzner

Matthießen

Geissler

et al. 2022

Global and Planetary Change

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An Early Neogene—Early Quaternary Contourite Drift System on the SW Barents Sea Continental Margin, Norwegian Arctic

Cited by 14 publications

References 89 publications

A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet

A Continuous Seismostratigraphic Framework for the Western Svalbard-Barents Sea Margin Over the Last 2.7 Ma: Implications for the Late Cenozoic Glacial History of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet

Latitudinal changes in submarine channel-levee system evolution, architecture and flow processes

A revised core-seismic integration in the Molloy Basin (ODP Site 909): Implications for the history of ice rafting and ocean circulation in the Atlantic-Arctic gateway

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