Skip to main content
Log in

Boundary current-controlled turbidite deposition: A sedimentation model for the Southern Nares Abyssal Plain, Western North Atlantic

  • Published:
Geo-Marine Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Examination of 38 sediment cores, bottom photographs, 7,000 km of 3.5 kHz reflection profiles and other seismic data from the southern part of the Nares Abyssal Plain suggests that complex sedimentary patterns and high sedimentation rates can be largely attributed to effects of a deep boundary current flowing eastward along the north flank of the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge. It is concluded that the areal dispersal pattern of turbidites on the plain results mainly from Quaternary climatically-induced fluctuations of the boundary current intensity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tucholke BE, Ewing JI (1974) Bathymetry and sediment geometry of the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge and vicinity. Geological Society of America Bulletin 85: 1789–1802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Shipley TH (1975) Echocharacteristics, reflector horizons and geology of the western central North Atlantic. Ph.D. thesis, Rice University, Houston, TX

    Google Scholar 

  3. Shipley TH (1978) Sedimentation and echcharacteristics in the abyssal hills of the west-central North Atlantic. Geological Society of America Bulletin 89: 397–408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Tucholke BE (1980) Acoustic environment of the Hatteras and Nares Abyssal Plains, western North Atlantic, determined from velocities and physical properties of sediment cores. Journal of the Acoustic Society of America 68: 1376–1390

    Google Scholar 

  5. Carpenter MSN, Colley S, Elderfield H, Kennedy HA, Thomson J, Wilson TRS (1983) Geochemistry of the near surface sediments of the Nares Abyssal Plain. Institite of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley, U.K., Report 174

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tucholke BE, Fry VA, Shephard LE (1983) Interim report on Nares Abyssal Plain studies for sub-seaded disposal of high-level nuclear waste. Report Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole MA

    Google Scholar 

  7. Amos AF, Escowitz EC (1971) Abyssal water circulation and spreading of Antarctic Bottom Water in the western North Atlantic. Transactions of the American Geophysical Union 52: 241–242

    Google Scholar 

  8. Hollister CD, Flood RD, Johnson DA, Lonsdale P, Southard JB (1974) Abyssal furrows and hyperbolic echo traces on the Bahama Outer Ridge. Geology 39: 395–400

    Google Scholar 

  9. Flood RD (1981) Longitudinal triangular ripples in the Blake-Bahama Basin. Marine Geology 39: M13-M20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Tucholke BE (1982) Origin of longitudinal triangular ripples on the Nova Scotian continental rise. Nature 296: 735–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Hollister CD, McCave JN (1984) Sedimention under deep-sea storms. Nature 309:220–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kuijpers A, Rispens FB, Burger AW (1984) Late Quaternary sedimentation and sedimentary processes on the Madeira Abyssal Plain, eastern North Atlantic. Mededelingen Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, The Netherlands, 38-2:91–118

    Google Scholar 

  13. Carter DJT (1980) Echo-sounding correction tables. U.K. Ministry of Defence, Hydrographic Department, Taunton

    Google Scholar 

  14. Damuth J (1980) Use of high-frequency (3.5–12 kHz) echograms in the study of near-bottom sedimentation processes in the deepsea: A review. Marine Geology 38:51–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Duin EJTh, Mesdag CS, Kok PTJ (1984) Faulting in Madeira Abyssal Plain sediments. Marine Geology 56:299–308

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Duin EJTh (1985) Geophysics of the southern Nares Abyssal Plain, western North Atlantic. Report Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, The Netherlands (in press)

  17. Kuijpers A (1985) Sediments of the southern Nares Abyssal Plain, western North Atlantic. Report Rijks Geologische Dienst, Haarlem, The Netherlands (in press)

  18. Broecker WS, Takahashi T (1978) The relationship between lysocline depth and in situ carbonate ion concentration. Deep-Sea Research 25:65–95

    Google Scholar 

  19. Bouma AH (1962) Sedimentology of some flysch deposits. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  20. Tucholke BE, Wright WR, Hollister CD (1973) Abyssal circulation over the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge. Deep-Sea Research 20:973–995

    Google Scholar 

  21. Yound RA, Southard JB (1978) Erosion of fine-grained marine sediments: seafloor and laboratory experiments. Geological Society of America Bulletin 89:663–672

    Google Scholar 

  22. Werner F, Unsöld G, Koopmann B, Stefanon A (1980) Field observations and flume experiments on the nature of comet marks. Sedimentary Geology 26:233–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kuijpers A (1980) Sediment patterns and bedforms, and their relationship to the flow regime in the Belt Sea and the Sound. Ph.D. thesis, Christian-Albrechts Universität, Kiel

    Google Scholar 

  24. Broecker WS (1982) Ocean chemistry during glacial time. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 46: 1689–1705

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kuijpers, A., Duin, E.J.T. Boundary current-controlled turbidite deposition: A sedimentation model for the Southern Nares Abyssal Plain, Western North Atlantic. Geo-Marine Letters 6, 21–28 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02311692

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02311692

Keywords

Navigation