Evaluating the role of physical mechanisms as possible triggers for turbidity currents in a deep ocean seamount

Le résumé fourni par la source

Turbidity currents on continental margins are often attributed to cyclic climate variability and sea-level change, while the causes of deep ocean turbidites are as yet to be tested. The Atlantic Iberian margin provides a unique setting to contrast deep ocean and continental environments, including depression features that further protect from resuspension and erosion by along-slope bottom currents. We present records of low-frequency, non-periodic, climate-independent turbidites from three deep cores covering up to 426,000 years in the Tore seamounts area. By evaluating a range of physical oceanographic mechanisms, the breaking of internal waves and mesoscale Mediterranean-eddies against unstable slopes in the seamounts area arises as the most likely triggers that precondition the recurrence pattern of the observed deep ocean turbidites. • Low-frequency, non-periodic, climate-independent sign in deep turbidites off Iberia. • Physical oceanographic processes evaluated as triggers for deep ocean turbidites. • Internal waves and Meddies role in less frequent turbidites away from continents. • Turbidite recurrence is cyclical near the Iberian continental margin canyons.

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