Contourite sedimentation in the Falkland Trough, western South Atlantic

Cunningham, Alex P.; Howe, John A.; Barker, Peter F.. 2002 Contourite sedimentation in the Falkland Trough, western South Atlantic. In: Stow, D.A.V.; Pudsey, C.J.; Howe, J.A.; Faugères, J.-C.; Viana, A.R., (eds.) Deep-water contourite systems: modern drifts and ancient series, seismic and sedimentary characteristics. London, Geological Society of London, 337-352. (Geological Society Memoir, 22).

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Abstract/Summary

The Falkland Trough is a west-east bathymetric deep that separates the Falkland Plateau from the North Scotia Ridge in the western South Atlantic. It lies in the path of Circumpolar Deep Water flowing within the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), and Weddell Sea Deep Water flowing beneath the ACC east of Shag Rocks passage. Marine geophysical and sediment core data demonstrate the influence of ambient bottom currents on deposition in this area, and reveal two styles of contourite sedimentation: (1) deposition of glauconite-rich sandy contourites in exposed areas of the Falkland Plateau and Falkland Trough, where vigorous ACC bottom currents control sedimentation, and (2) deposition of biogenic sandy contourites, muddy contourites and hemipelagites (western Falkland Trough), and muddy diatom ooze (eastern Falkland Trough), in the form of two elongate sediment drifts, which have developed in the presence of more sluggish bottom currents. The drift sediments contain a depositional record of bottom current flow through the glacial cycle (southern-origin bottom water flow in the east, and probably ACC flow in the west); analyses of core data from the western Falkland Trough suggest a reduction in bottom current strength during the Last Glacial Maximum at present depths of > 2500 m below sea level.

Item Type:	Publication - Book Section
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005)
ISBN:	1862390924
NORA Subject Terms:	Marine Sciences Earth Sciences
Date made live:	15 Nov 2011 09:06 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13258

Item Type:

Publication - Book Section

Programmes:

BAS Programmes > Antarctic Science in the Global Context (2000-2005)

ISBN:

1862390924

NORA Subject Terms:

Marine Sciences
Earth Sciences

Date made live:

15 Nov 2011 09:06 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/13258