Northeast Atlantic passive continental margins: Rifting and subsidence processes

Dynamic support by the Icelandic plume and vertical tectonics of the northeast Atlantic continental margins

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres ◽

10.1029/95jb02511 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 100 (B12) ◽

pp. 24473-24486 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Peter D. Clift ◽

Jonathan Turner

Keyword(s):

Continental Margins ◽

Northeast Atlantic ◽

Dynamic Support

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Tectonic evolution of strike-slip zones on continental margins and their impact on the development of submarine landslides (Storegga Slide, northeast Atlantic)

Geological Society of America Bulletin ◽

10.1130/b35421.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 132 (11-12) ◽

pp. 2397-2414 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jing Song ◽

T.M. Alves ◽

K.O. Omosanya ◽

T.C. Hales ◽

Tao Ze

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Strike Slip ◽

Fault Reactivation ◽

Slope Instability ◽

Continental Margins ◽

Submarine Landslides ◽

The South ◽

Borehole Data ◽

Northeast Atlantic

Abstract Submarine landslides have affected the mid-Norwegian margin since the Last Glacial Maximum. However, the role of tectonic movements, and most especially fault reactivation, in generating landslides offshore Norway is largely unconstrained. This study uses high-quality three-dimensional seismic and borehole data to understand how landslide development is controlled by faults propagating within the uplifted south Modgunn arch. Variance and structural maps above the south Modgunn arch show that: (1) local scarps of recurrent landslides were formed close to the largest faults, and mainly above strike-slip faults; (2) distinct periods of fault generation were associated with tectonic events, such as the breakup of the northeast Atlantic Ocean, and those events forming the south Modgunn arch; and (3) important fluid-flow features coincide with faults and sill intrusions. In total, 177 faults were analyzed to demonstrate that fault throw values vary from 10 ms to 115 ms two-way traveltime (8 m to 92 m). We propose that the long-term activity of faults in the study area has contributed to fluid migration, weakened post-breakup strata, and controlled the development of submarine slope instability. In particular, strike-slip faults coincide with the locations of several Quaternary landslide scars near the modern seafloor. Similar processes to those documented in Norway may explain the onset of large-scale landslides on other continental margins.

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The cold-water coral community as hotspot of carbon cycling on continental margins: A food-web analysis from Rockall Bank (northeast Atlantic)

Limnology and Oceanography ◽

10.4319/lo.2009.54.6.1829 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 54 (6) ◽

pp. 1829-1844 ◽

Cited By ~ 117

Author(s):

Dick van Oevelen ◽

Gerard Duineveld ◽

Marc Lavaleye ◽

Furu Mienis ◽

Karline Soetaert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Web ◽

Carbon Cycling ◽

Cold Water ◽

Coral Community ◽

Continental Margins ◽

Northeast Atlantic ◽

Water Coral

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Bathymetric map of the NE Atlantic Ocean and Bay of Biscay: kinematic implications

BSGF - Earth Sciences Bulletin ◽

10.2113/175.5.429 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 175 (5) ◽

pp. 429-442 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Jean-Claude Sibuet ◽

Serge Monti ◽

Benoît Loubrieu ◽

Jean-Pierre Mazé ◽

Shiri Srivastava

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Ocean ◽

Triple Junction ◽

Conjugate Points ◽

Continental Margins ◽

Bay Of Biscay ◽

Northeast Atlantic ◽

Bathymetric Data ◽

Mercator Projection ◽

Northeast Atlantic Ocean ◽

Bathymetric Map

Abstract The new bathymetric map of the Bay of Biscay and Northeast Atlantic Ocean is based on available conventional and swath bathymetric data. It extends from the European coast to the mid-Atlantic ridge in longitude and from the Azores-Gibraltar fracture zone to 50°N in latitude. Grid spacing is 1 km. The map is in Mercator projection at a 1/2,400,000 scale (41°N latitude). With respect to previously published maps, the detailed morphology of the Eurasian and Iberian continental margins is now well established. In addition, we have mapped the two fossil trajectories of the Bay of Biscay triple junction, which limit the western extension of the Bay of Biscay sensu stricto. The Bay of Biscay and Northeast Atlantic Ocean opened simultaneously, between chrons M0 (118 Ma) and 33o (80 Ma). A triple junction existed during that period. Fossil triple junctions trajectories on each of the three Eurasia (EU), Iberia (IB) and North America (NA) plates separate oceanic domains which were formed between the three plate pairs : IB/EU for the Bay of Biscay, EU/NA and IB/NA for the northern and southern portions of the Northeast Atlantic respectively. On each side of the fossil trajectories, rift directions formed between different plate pairs display different azimuths. The three triple junction branches have been identified on the basis of magnetic, seismic and bathymetric data. They are generally associated with a basement ridge which generally appears in the youngest parts of triple junction branches. The intersections of fossil trajectories with the base of the continental margins correspond to conjugate points before the opening of the Bay of Biscay, giving an additional independent constraint for plate reconstructions at M0 time. In addition, rotations of Iberia as deduced from plate kinematic reconstructions at chrons A33o (80 Ma), M0 (118 Ma) and M25 (156.5 Ma), fit with those derived from paleomagnetic declination data of the stable Iberia with respect to EU. The identification of chrons M0 and M3 (125 Ma) in the Bay of Biscay implies that the northern Bay of Biscay margin rifting episode ended in lowermost Cretaceous instead of late Aptian as currently admitted in the litterature. The duration of the rifting episode is reduced to about 20 Ma, as it has been already suggested for the Iberian Abyssal Plain margin [Wilson et al., 2001].

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