Contourite erosive features caused by the Mediterranean Outflow Water in the Gulf of Cadiz: Quaternary tectonic and oceanographic implications

Ferromanganese nodules and micro-hardgrounds associated with the Cadiz Contourite Channel (NE Atlantic): Palaeoenvironmental records of fluid venting and bottom currents

“…Kenyon and Belderson, 1973;Ambar and Howe, 1979a;Mulder et al, 2003). These current velocity variations are c1early conditioned by the bottom topography and give rise to sedimentary features such as channels and contourite deposits that have been influenced in the Late Quaternary by c1imatic and sea level changes, oceanographic conditions and local tectonic events García et al, 2009).…”

“…It also has several depositional and erosive features such as contourite channels, furrows and marginal valleys (e.g. Hernández-Molina et al, 2003Llave et al, 2006;García et al, 2009). Part of the CDS has developed on the offshore extension of the Betic Chain.…”

“…The CCC corresponds with the southern branch, along which the lower core of the MOW circulates with a present-day velocity ranging from 20 to 80 cm/s in the study area (e.g. Kenyon and Belderson, 1973;García et al, 2009). The GDR forms a topographic high that constricts the MOW circulation pathways, dividing the current into minor branches (Nelson et al, 1993;Hernández-Molina et al, 2003).…”

“…The CCC crosses and has eroded fossil contourite deposits composed of mounded, elongate, separated and sheeted drifts Llave et al, 2006). Large erosive incisions up to 200 m deep have been identified in the CCC (García et al, 2009). The channel floor shows a high backscatter, reflecting the presence of sandy-gravellags, outcropping diapirs and hard substrates (Nelson et al, 1993;Hernández-Molina et al, 2006).…”

Variations of Mediterranean–Atlantic exchange across the late Pliocene climate transition

“…Once LIW and WMDW exit the Strait of Gibraltar and form MOW, this water mass splits into two plumes due to the complex morphology of the continental slope in the Gulf of Cadiz. The upper plume flows between 500 and 800 m while the lower plume flows between 800 and 1400 m (Ambar and Howe, 1979;Borenäs et al, 2002;García et al, 2009;Llave et al, 95 2007;Madelain, 1970;Marchès et al, 2007;Serra et al, 2005;Zenk, 1975). Surface circulation in the Gulf of Cadiz is governed by the Gulf of Cadiz slope current, flowing eastward along the western Iberian margin and the offshore inflow which meet at the Strait of Gibraltar and enter the Mediterranean basin (Peliz et al, 2009).…”