A new submarine volcano has been discovered offshore Mayotte, a part of the Comoros volcanic arch... more A new submarine volcano has been discovered offshore Mayotte, a part of the Comoros volcanic archipelago located between Africa and Madagascar. Regarding this seismo-volcanic activity, a 3-D passive tomography was conducted, in order to determine the structure of the volcanic plumbing system (Foix et al., 2021). Using > 3,000 earthquakes from an ongoing monitoring effort, and a 1D velocity model determined onboard, we jointly inverted for velocity structures, earthquake locations, origin times, and station corrections using LOTOS software . We are sharing here the 3-D P and S velocity models and 3-D output earthquake locations.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2021
International audienceA new submarine volcano has been discovered offshore Mayotte, a part of the... more International audienceA new submarine volcano has been discovered offshore Mayotte, a part of the Comoros volcanic archipelago located between Africa and Madagascar. The edifice arose from the sea-floor following a seismo-volcanic crisis that started in May 2018. This seismo-volcanic activity highlights very deep magma reservoirs and dykes in the East Mayotte volcanic system. Since the crisis, the region has experienced >2000 earthquakes with magnitude ≥3.5 and activity continues today (August 17, 2021). The earthquakes are unusually deep and distributed into two swarms: one 5–15 km east of Petite-Terre at 25–55 km depth and a second 25 km away at 30–50 km depth. Significant subsidence of Mayotte to the East has been assigned to the drainage of a deep magma chamber, inferred to be located 30 km from the coast. However, at present, the earthquake locations and geodetic observations have not been sufficient to image entirely the structure of the volcanic plumbing system. In this study, we construct Vp, Vs, dVp, dVs and Vp/Vs 3D velocity models to assess the deeper structure of the young volcano plumbing system, offshore and East of Mayotte. Using >3000 earthquakes from an ongoing monitoring effort, and a 1D velocity model determined onboard, we jointly inverted for velocity structures, earthquake locations, origin times, and station corrections using LOTOS software. The calculated 3D velocity models highlight a complex volcanic system down to 40 km depth. Specifically, we image 3 interpreted reservoirs, more or less consolidated/old. The main reservoir is located at about 30 km depth and deeper, making it one of the deepest magmatic chamber imaged. The reservoirs are connected by several old crystallized conduits, whose existence could have been influenced by the presence of an old fracture zone, globally oriented N130°, due to a regional strike-slip motion of the lithosphere. Moreover, gas-saturated rock may be present below the currently degassing Horse Shoe structure. We were unable to image connections between the new volcanic edifice and reservoirs or conduits due to a lack of resolution in that part of the study area
Seamounts in the Mozambique Channel host rich but potentially vulnerable ecosystems. A towed came... more Seamounts in the Mozambique Channel host rich but potentially vulnerable ecosystems. A towed camera survey was used to assess the composition, vulnerability and resilience of four seamounts: Glorieuses, Sakalaves, Bassas da India, and Hall Bank. This six dive survey, between 300 and 1,000 m depth recorded > 40 hours of videos, > 6000 still images, covering > 200,000 m². Over 70,000 individuals were observed and 400 morphospecies identified. The main taxonomic groups were sponges, corals, crustaceans, echinoderms, and fish. Preliminary analysis based on morphotypes suggests that composition, densities and diversity of these groups varied significantly between seamounts. Variability has also been observed at a local scale, between the peak and upper slope of a seamount. Glorieuses is a muddy terrace dominated by three sponge morphotypes. Sakalaves’ plateau is dominated by brittle stars and corals, while the upper slopes are mainly dominated by fish and urchins, sponges and cr...
Submarine gravity flow processes on carbonate platform slopes can lead to the deposition of calci... more Submarine gravity flow processes on carbonate platform slopes can lead to the deposition of calciturbidite and calcidebrite beds on the adjacent deep-water seafloor. Such deposits have been previously found to occur more frequently during sea-level highstands, leading to increased export of carbonates to the deep sea during interglacial periods. Here, we document a new occurrence of these types of event beds in cores near a series of volcano-cored carbonate platforms in the Mozambique Channel (SW Indian Ocean), describing them from a sedimentological perspective and analyzing the controls on their distribution. 32 event beds, located near four isolated platforms, are composed primarily of uncoated skeletal grains from primarily shallow-water and planktic taxa. Compositional analysis shows that planktic foraminifera are hydrodynamically sorted such that they form a greater proportion of the upper parts of event beds. Age models based on foraminifer δ18O isotope data allow for precise (ky-scale) dating of each gravity flow event; results show that events occurred with frequencies ranging from 2 to 4 events per 100,000 years over the past ~ 800 kyr regardless of the phase within the sea-level cycle (i.e., transgressive, regressive, highstand or lowstand). However, events were most frequent during periods, both relative and absolute, of highest sea level, and are therefore interpreted to be controlled in part by sea-level status or change, though additional causes are also possible.
A 27-meter core collected on the seafloor (1909 meters depth) near Juan de Nova island preserves ... more A 27-meter core collected on the seafloor (1909 meters depth) near Juan de Nova island preserves a high-resolution record of carbonate export to the deep sea over the past 1 Myr. Core chronology was established using calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and benthic foraminiferal δ18O, which was correlated with variations in the aragonite content within seafloor muds. Throughout the core, preserved highstand intervals (MIS 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23 and 25) are marked by an increase in the aragonite content within the sediment. Aragonite is likely sourced from the nearby Juan de Nova carbonate platform ~10 km to the south, and is interpreted to result from flooding of the platform top. Platform inundation allows carbonate muds to be winnowed from their original shallow-water environment of deposition, suspended in the water column, and redeposited into the proximal slopes and basin. Sharp increases in aragonite content at the beginning of each highstand interval can be used to esti...
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT: Evidences of sedimentation affected by oceanic circulation, such as nepheloid layers and contourites are often observed along continental slopes. However, the oceanographic processes controlling sedimentation along continental margins remain poorly understood. Multibeam bathymetry and high-resolution seismic reflection data revealed a contourite depositional system in the Mozambican upper continental slope composed of a contourite terrace (a surface with a gentle seaward slope dominated by erosion) and a plastered drift (a convex-shape sedimentary deposit). A continuous alongslope channel and a field of sand dunes (mainly migrating upslope), formed during Holocene, were identified in the contourite terrace at the present seafloor. Seismic reflection data of the water column show internal waves and boluses propagating in the pycnocline near the upper slope. The channel and the dunes are probably the result of the interaction of the observed internal waves with the seafloor under two different conditions. The alongslope channel is located in a zone where intense barotropic tidal currents may arrest internal solitary waves, generating a hydraulic jump and focused erosion. However, upslope migrating dunes may be formed by bottom currents induced by internal solitary waves of elevation propagating landwards in the pycnocline. These small-scale sedimentary features generated by internal waves are superimposed on large-scale contouritic deposits, such as plastered drifts and contourite terraces, which are related to geostrophic currents. These findings provide new insights into the oceanographic processes that control sedimentation along continental margins that will help interpretation of palaeoceanographic conditions from the sedimentary record.
Subaqueous sand dunes are common bedforms on continental shelves dominated by tidal and geostroph... more Subaqueous sand dunes are common bedforms on continental shelves dominated by tidal and geostrophic currents. However, much less is known about sand dunes in deep-marine settings that are affected by strong bottom currents. In this study, dune fields were identified on drowned isolated carbonate platforms in the Mozambique Channel (south-west Indian Ocean). The acquired data include multibeam bathymetry, multi-channel high-resolution seismic reflection data, sea floor imagery, a sediment sample and current measurements from a moored current meter and hull-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler. The dunes are located at water depths ranging from 200 to 600 m on the slope terraces of a modern atoll (Bassas da India Atoll) and within small depressions formed during tectonic deformation of drowned carbonate platforms (Sakalaves Seamount and Jaguar Bank). Dunes are composed of bioclastic medium size sand, and are large to very large, with wavelengths of 40 to 350 m and heights of 0.9 to 9.0 m. Dune migration seems to be unidirectional in each dune field, suggesting a continuous import and export of bioclastic sand, with little sand being recycled. Oceanic currents are very intense in the Mozambique Channel and may be able to erode submerged carbonates, generating carbonate sand at great depths. A mooring located at 463 m water depth on the Hall Bank (30 km west of the Jaguar Bank) showed vigorous bottom currents, with mean speeds of 14 cm sec−1 and maximum speeds of 57 cm sec−1, compatible with sand dune formation. The intensity of currents is highly variable and is related to tidal processes (high-frequency variability) and to anticyclonic eddies near the seamounts (low-frequency variability). This study contributes to a better understanding of the formation of dunes in deep-marine settings and provides valuable information about carbonate preservation after drowning and the impact of bottom currents on sediment distribution and sea floor morphology.
The past two million years of eastern African climate variability is currently poorly constrained... more The past two million years of eastern African climate variability is currently poorly constrained, despite interest in understanding its assumed role in early human evolution. Rare palaeoclimate records from northeastern Africa suggest progressively drier conditions or a stable hydroclimate. By contrast, records from Lake Malawi in tropical southeastern Africa reveal a trend of a progressively wetter climate over the past 1.3 million years. The climatic forcings that controlled these past hydrological changes are also a matter of debate. Some studies suggest a dominant local insolation forcing on hydrological changes, whereas others infer a potential influence of sea surface temperature changes in the Indian Ocean. Here we show that the hydroclimate in southeastern Africa (20-25° S) is controlled by interplay between low-latitude insolation forcing (precession and eccentricity) and changes in ice volume at high latitudes. Our results are based on a multiple-proxy reconstruction of h...
<p>It is important to better understand how climatic fluctuations modified ... more <p>It is important to better understand how climatic fluctuations modified denudation, in particular during the large amplitude glacial cycles of the Quaternary, not only because denudation is thought to be a long-term climate pacer, but also because available denudation records are contradictory and sometimes underconstrained. To make progress on this question, we present here a compilation of <sup>10</sup>Be-derived denudation rates from 6 boreholes and cores drilled in offshore sediments from two alpine massifs of the Mediterranean Sea: Southern Alps (Var River) and Corsica (Golo River). This original dataset of 60 <sup>10</sup>Be samples from well-dated sedimentary archives documents at high resolution (1 kyr in some sections) the denudation variability over the last 3 million years of the alpine reliefs, with a special focus on the last five 100 kyr glacial cycles. Our new record brings two main results:</p><p>1) At the million years timescale, the appearance of the Quaternary glaciations at the Plio-Pleistocene transition (2.6 Ma) had a negligible impact on the mean <sup>10</sup>Be-derived denudation rates of Mediterranean Alpine reliefs. This observation is in good agreement with other <sup>10</sup>Be-denudation rates records from Asia (Tianshan and Himalaya) that report a limited impact of the Pleistocene climatic transition (Puchol et al., 2017; Charreau et al., 2020; Lenard et al., 2020), but at odds with other regions of the American Cordilleras, where tectonic may have played a role (Stock et al., 2004; Granger and Schaller, 2014).</p><p>2) At the glacial-interglacial cycles timescale, our high resolution <sup>10</sup>Be data over the last 500 kys reveal that glacial maxima enhanced denudation compared to interglacial periods. However, this impact is variable in space and time, different denudation responses being observed between Southern Alps and Corsica. This contrasted behavior appears to be controlled by the velocity of paleoglaciers. Glacier flow being determined by the combined impact of paleoclimate and basin reliefs, this mechanism is responsible for a non-linear response of denudation to glacier fluctuations. This may explain why glaciations had regionally variable impacts on denudation (Mariotti et al., 2021).</p><p><strong>References</strong></p><p>Charreau, J. et al. (2020) Basin Research. doi: 10.1111/bre.12511; Granger, D. E. and Schaller, M. (2014) Elements, doi: 10.2113/gselements.10.5.369; Lenard, S. J. P. et al. (2020) Nature Geoscience, doi: 10.1038/s41561-020-0585-2; Mariotti, A. et al. (2021) Nature Geoscience, doi: 10.1038/s41561-020-00672-2; Puchol, N. et al. (2017) Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, doi: 10.1130/B31475.1; Stock, G. M., et al. (2004) Geology, doi: 10.1130/G20197.1.</p>
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Denudation is one of the main processes that shapes landscapes. Since temperature, precipitation ... more Denudation is one of the main processes that shapes landscapes. Since temperature, precipitation and glacial extents are key factors involved in denudation, climatic fluctuations are thought to exert a strong control on this parameter over geological timescales. However, the direct impacts of climatic variations on denudation remain controversial, particularly those involving the Quaternary glacial cycles in mountain environments. Here we measure in-situ cosmogenic 10 Be concentration in quartz in marine turbidites of two high-resolution cores collected in the Mediterranean Sea, providing a near-continuous (~1 to 2 ka temporal resolution) reconstruction of denudation in the Southern Alps since 75 ka. This high-resolution paleo-denudation record can be compared with well-constrained climatic variations over the last glacial cycle. Our results indicate that total denudation rates were ∼2 times higher than present during the Last Glacial Maximum (26.5-19 ka), the glacial component of the denudation rates being 1.5. . mm a-1. However, during moderately glaciated times (74-29 ka), denudation rates were similar to today (0.24 ± 0.04 mm a-1). This suggests a nonlinear forcing of climate on denudation, mainly controlled by the interplay between glaciers velocity and basin topography. Hence, the onset of Quaternary glaciations, 2.6 million years ago, did not necessarily induce a synchronous global denudation pulse. How climate and climatic fluctuations affect denudation rates over geological timescales remains debated 1,2. Relying on sedimentation records 3 and thermochronology 4,5 several authors have reported increased denudation rates at the onset of Pleistocene glaciations around 2.6 Ma 6 either due to increased variability of Quaternary climatic cycles 3 or
Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following ... more Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available on the publisher Web site.
Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following ... more Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available on the publisher Web site.
<p&amp... more <p>The early development and growth of seamounts are poorly known as the birth of a volcano on the sea bottom has been rarely observed. The on-going Mayotte seismo-volcanic crisis is associated with the formation of a new seafloor volcano at a water depth of 3300 m and provides the opportunity to study its early development.</p><p>Four oceanographic cruises, MAYOBS 1 to 4, were carried out between May and July 2019 aboard the French R/V Marion Dufresne. High resolution bathymetry and backscatter data as well as sub-bottom profiler, gravity and magnetic profiles were collected during each cruise. A dense network of profiles has been achieved over the new volcano at different epochs, allowing to assess its detailed morphology and the evolution through time. During MAYOBS4, a deep-towed underwater camera provided sea bottom videos and photos on the volcano.</p><p>First results indicate that the new volcano is still growing at the end of July 2019. Repetitive surveys in May, June and July 2019 allow to document the morphological evolution of the volcano, to estimate the volume of material emplaced between each epoch and to discuss the emitted lava rate.</p><p>The new volcano has a starfish shape and is now 820 m high. Steep slopes are observed close to the summit and several radial ridges developed from its central part, displaying hummocky morphology similar to the ones observed along mid oceanic axial volcanic ridges. At the bottom, flat areas with high backscatter could indicate channelized lava flows emplaced at higher effusion rates. The morphological analysis combined with video imagery brings constraints to the eruptive processes yielding to the formation of a nascent volcano.</p><p> </p>
The study of modern carbonate systems is commonly helps in improving facies interpretation in fos... more The study of modern carbonate systems is commonly helps in improving facies interpretation in fossil reefs and in providing analogues of sediment distribution depending on the specific platform configuration (i.e. rimmed shelves and isolated carbonate platforms). This paper deals with a geomorphological and sedimentological study of the Glorieuses Archipelago, an isolated carbonate platform located between the northern tip of Madagascar and Mayotte. The dataset consists of Digital Terrain Model, satellite imagery, and box-sediment samples. Analyses of grain-size and composition of carbonate grains are used to characterize the distribution and heterogeneity of sediment accumulated on the isolated platform. Main results show that the Glorieuses Archipelago is organized in distinctive morphological units, including a reef flat developed along the windward side, an apron, and a semienclosed (< 12 m water depth) to open lagoon (> 12 m and up to 15 m water depth). The lack of carbonate mud in sediments deposited on the archipelago can be explained by the direct connection between the lagoon and the open ocean. The main carbonate grains include Halimeda segments, coral fragments, large benthic foraminifers, red algae, and molluscs. According to the shape and the position of intertidal sandwaves, the current arrangement of moderately sorted fine to medium sands appears to be strongly influenced by tidal currents. The in-situ sediment production, accumulation and transport on the platform finally contribute to carbonate sand export to distinct deep marine areas depending on wind regimes and currents.
A new submarine volcano has been discovered offshore Mayotte, a part of the Comoros volcanic arch... more A new submarine volcano has been discovered offshore Mayotte, a part of the Comoros volcanic archipelago located between Africa and Madagascar. Regarding this seismo-volcanic activity, a 3-D passive tomography was conducted, in order to determine the structure of the volcanic plumbing system (Foix et al., 2021). Using > 3,000 earthquakes from an ongoing monitoring effort, and a 1D velocity model determined onboard, we jointly inverted for velocity structures, earthquake locations, origin times, and station corrections using LOTOS software . We are sharing here the 3-D P and S velocity models and 3-D output earthquake locations.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2021
International audienceA new submarine volcano has been discovered offshore Mayotte, a part of the... more International audienceA new submarine volcano has been discovered offshore Mayotte, a part of the Comoros volcanic archipelago located between Africa and Madagascar. The edifice arose from the sea-floor following a seismo-volcanic crisis that started in May 2018. This seismo-volcanic activity highlights very deep magma reservoirs and dykes in the East Mayotte volcanic system. Since the crisis, the region has experienced >2000 earthquakes with magnitude ≥3.5 and activity continues today (August 17, 2021). The earthquakes are unusually deep and distributed into two swarms: one 5–15 km east of Petite-Terre at 25–55 km depth and a second 25 km away at 30–50 km depth. Significant subsidence of Mayotte to the East has been assigned to the drainage of a deep magma chamber, inferred to be located 30 km from the coast. However, at present, the earthquake locations and geodetic observations have not been sufficient to image entirely the structure of the volcanic plumbing system. In this study, we construct Vp, Vs, dVp, dVs and Vp/Vs 3D velocity models to assess the deeper structure of the young volcano plumbing system, offshore and East of Mayotte. Using >3000 earthquakes from an ongoing monitoring effort, and a 1D velocity model determined onboard, we jointly inverted for velocity structures, earthquake locations, origin times, and station corrections using LOTOS software. The calculated 3D velocity models highlight a complex volcanic system down to 40 km depth. Specifically, we image 3 interpreted reservoirs, more or less consolidated/old. The main reservoir is located at about 30 km depth and deeper, making it one of the deepest magmatic chamber imaged. The reservoirs are connected by several old crystallized conduits, whose existence could have been influenced by the presence of an old fracture zone, globally oriented N130°, due to a regional strike-slip motion of the lithosphere. Moreover, gas-saturated rock may be present below the currently degassing Horse Shoe structure. We were unable to image connections between the new volcanic edifice and reservoirs or conduits due to a lack of resolution in that part of the study area
Seamounts in the Mozambique Channel host rich but potentially vulnerable ecosystems. A towed came... more Seamounts in the Mozambique Channel host rich but potentially vulnerable ecosystems. A towed camera survey was used to assess the composition, vulnerability and resilience of four seamounts: Glorieuses, Sakalaves, Bassas da India, and Hall Bank. This six dive survey, between 300 and 1,000 m depth recorded > 40 hours of videos, > 6000 still images, covering > 200,000 m². Over 70,000 individuals were observed and 400 morphospecies identified. The main taxonomic groups were sponges, corals, crustaceans, echinoderms, and fish. Preliminary analysis based on morphotypes suggests that composition, densities and diversity of these groups varied significantly between seamounts. Variability has also been observed at a local scale, between the peak and upper slope of a seamount. Glorieuses is a muddy terrace dominated by three sponge morphotypes. Sakalaves’ plateau is dominated by brittle stars and corals, while the upper slopes are mainly dominated by fish and urchins, sponges and cr...
Submarine gravity flow processes on carbonate platform slopes can lead to the deposition of calci... more Submarine gravity flow processes on carbonate platform slopes can lead to the deposition of calciturbidite and calcidebrite beds on the adjacent deep-water seafloor. Such deposits have been previously found to occur more frequently during sea-level highstands, leading to increased export of carbonates to the deep sea during interglacial periods. Here, we document a new occurrence of these types of event beds in cores near a series of volcano-cored carbonate platforms in the Mozambique Channel (SW Indian Ocean), describing them from a sedimentological perspective and analyzing the controls on their distribution. 32 event beds, located near four isolated platforms, are composed primarily of uncoated skeletal grains from primarily shallow-water and planktic taxa. Compositional analysis shows that planktic foraminifera are hydrodynamically sorted such that they form a greater proportion of the upper parts of event beds. Age models based on foraminifer δ18O isotope data allow for precise (ky-scale) dating of each gravity flow event; results show that events occurred with frequencies ranging from 2 to 4 events per 100,000 years over the past ~ 800 kyr regardless of the phase within the sea-level cycle (i.e., transgressive, regressive, highstand or lowstand). However, events were most frequent during periods, both relative and absolute, of highest sea level, and are therefore interpreted to be controlled in part by sea-level status or change, though additional causes are also possible.
A 27-meter core collected on the seafloor (1909 meters depth) near Juan de Nova island preserves ... more A 27-meter core collected on the seafloor (1909 meters depth) near Juan de Nova island preserves a high-resolution record of carbonate export to the deep sea over the past 1 Myr. Core chronology was established using calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and benthic foraminiferal δ18O, which was correlated with variations in the aragonite content within seafloor muds. Throughout the core, preserved highstand intervals (MIS 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23 and 25) are marked by an increase in the aragonite content within the sediment. Aragonite is likely sourced from the nearby Juan de Nova carbonate platform ~10 km to the south, and is interpreted to result from flooding of the platform top. Platform inundation allows carbonate muds to be winnowed from their original shallow-water environment of deposition, suspended in the water column, and redeposited into the proximal slopes and basin. Sharp increases in aragonite content at the beginning of each highstand interval can be used to esti...
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which... more This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT: Evidences of sedimentation affected by oceanic circulation, such as nepheloid layers and contourites are often observed along continental slopes. However, the oceanographic processes controlling sedimentation along continental margins remain poorly understood. Multibeam bathymetry and high-resolution seismic reflection data revealed a contourite depositional system in the Mozambican upper continental slope composed of a contourite terrace (a surface with a gentle seaward slope dominated by erosion) and a plastered drift (a convex-shape sedimentary deposit). A continuous alongslope channel and a field of sand dunes (mainly migrating upslope), formed during Holocene, were identified in the contourite terrace at the present seafloor. Seismic reflection data of the water column show internal waves and boluses propagating in the pycnocline near the upper slope. The channel and the dunes are probably the result of the interaction of the observed internal waves with the seafloor under two different conditions. The alongslope channel is located in a zone where intense barotropic tidal currents may arrest internal solitary waves, generating a hydraulic jump and focused erosion. However, upslope migrating dunes may be formed by bottom currents induced by internal solitary waves of elevation propagating landwards in the pycnocline. These small-scale sedimentary features generated by internal waves are superimposed on large-scale contouritic deposits, such as plastered drifts and contourite terraces, which are related to geostrophic currents. These findings provide new insights into the oceanographic processes that control sedimentation along continental margins that will help interpretation of palaeoceanographic conditions from the sedimentary record.
Subaqueous sand dunes are common bedforms on continental shelves dominated by tidal and geostroph... more Subaqueous sand dunes are common bedforms on continental shelves dominated by tidal and geostrophic currents. However, much less is known about sand dunes in deep-marine settings that are affected by strong bottom currents. In this study, dune fields were identified on drowned isolated carbonate platforms in the Mozambique Channel (south-west Indian Ocean). The acquired data include multibeam bathymetry, multi-channel high-resolution seismic reflection data, sea floor imagery, a sediment sample and current measurements from a moored current meter and hull-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler. The dunes are located at water depths ranging from 200 to 600 m on the slope terraces of a modern atoll (Bassas da India Atoll) and within small depressions formed during tectonic deformation of drowned carbonate platforms (Sakalaves Seamount and Jaguar Bank). Dunes are composed of bioclastic medium size sand, and are large to very large, with wavelengths of 40 to 350 m and heights of 0.9 to 9.0 m. Dune migration seems to be unidirectional in each dune field, suggesting a continuous import and export of bioclastic sand, with little sand being recycled. Oceanic currents are very intense in the Mozambique Channel and may be able to erode submerged carbonates, generating carbonate sand at great depths. A mooring located at 463 m water depth on the Hall Bank (30 km west of the Jaguar Bank) showed vigorous bottom currents, with mean speeds of 14 cm sec−1 and maximum speeds of 57 cm sec−1, compatible with sand dune formation. The intensity of currents is highly variable and is related to tidal processes (high-frequency variability) and to anticyclonic eddies near the seamounts (low-frequency variability). This study contributes to a better understanding of the formation of dunes in deep-marine settings and provides valuable information about carbonate preservation after drowning and the impact of bottom currents on sediment distribution and sea floor morphology.
The past two million years of eastern African climate variability is currently poorly constrained... more The past two million years of eastern African climate variability is currently poorly constrained, despite interest in understanding its assumed role in early human evolution. Rare palaeoclimate records from northeastern Africa suggest progressively drier conditions or a stable hydroclimate. By contrast, records from Lake Malawi in tropical southeastern Africa reveal a trend of a progressively wetter climate over the past 1.3 million years. The climatic forcings that controlled these past hydrological changes are also a matter of debate. Some studies suggest a dominant local insolation forcing on hydrological changes, whereas others infer a potential influence of sea surface temperature changes in the Indian Ocean. Here we show that the hydroclimate in southeastern Africa (20-25° S) is controlled by interplay between low-latitude insolation forcing (precession and eccentricity) and changes in ice volume at high latitudes. Our results are based on a multiple-proxy reconstruction of h...
&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It is important to better understand how climatic fluctuations modified ... more &amp;lt;p&amp;gt;It is important to better understand how climatic fluctuations modified denudation, in particular during the large amplitude glacial cycles of the Quaternary, not only because denudation is thought to be a long-term climate pacer, but also because available denudation records are contradictory and sometimes underconstrained. To make progress on this question, we present here a compilation of &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Be-derived denudation rates from 6 boreholes and cores drilled in offshore sediments from two alpine massifs of the Mediterranean Sea: Southern Alps (Var River) and Corsica (Golo River). This original dataset of 60 &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Be samples from well-dated sedimentary archives documents at high resolution (1 kyr in some sections) the denudation variability over the last 3 million years of the alpine reliefs, with a special focus on the last five 100 kyr glacial cycles. Our new record brings two main results:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;1) At the million years timescale, the appearance of the Quaternary glaciations at the Plio-Pleistocene transition (2.6 Ma) had a negligible impact on the mean &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Be-derived denudation rates of Mediterranean Alpine reliefs. This observation is in good agreement with other &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Be-denudation rates records from Asia (Tianshan and Himalaya) that report a limited impact of the Pleistocene climatic transition (Puchol et al., 2017; Charreau et al., 2020; Lenard et al., 2020), but at odds with other regions of the American Cordilleras, where tectonic may have played a role (Stock et al., 2004; Granger and Schaller, 2014).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;2) At the glacial-interglacial cycles timescale, our high resolution &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Be data over the last 500 kys reveal that glacial maxima enhanced denudation compared to interglacial periods. However, this impact is variable in space and time, different denudation responses being observed between Southern Alps and Corsica. This contrasted behavior appears to be controlled by the velocity of paleoglaciers. Glacier flow being determined by the combined impact of paleoclimate and basin reliefs, this mechanism is responsible for a non-linear response of denudation to glacier fluctuations. This may explain why glaciations had regionally variable impacts on denudation (Mariotti et al., 2021).&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;References&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Charreau, J. et al. (2020) Basin Research. doi: 10.1111/bre.12511; Granger, D. E. and Schaller, M. (2014) Elements, doi: 10.2113/gselements.10.5.369; Lenard, S. J. P. et al. (2020) Nature Geoscience, doi: 10.1038/s41561-020-0585-2; Mariotti, A. et al. (2021) Nature Geoscience, doi: 10.1038/s41561-020-00672-2; Puchol, N. et al. (2017) Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, doi: 10.1130/B31475.1; Stock, G. M., et al. (2004) Geology, doi: 10.1130/G20197.1.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;
This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.
Denudation is one of the main processes that shapes landscapes. Since temperature, precipitation ... more Denudation is one of the main processes that shapes landscapes. Since temperature, precipitation and glacial extents are key factors involved in denudation, climatic fluctuations are thought to exert a strong control on this parameter over geological timescales. However, the direct impacts of climatic variations on denudation remain controversial, particularly those involving the Quaternary glacial cycles in mountain environments. Here we measure in-situ cosmogenic 10 Be concentration in quartz in marine turbidites of two high-resolution cores collected in the Mediterranean Sea, providing a near-continuous (~1 to 2 ka temporal resolution) reconstruction of denudation in the Southern Alps since 75 ka. This high-resolution paleo-denudation record can be compared with well-constrained climatic variations over the last glacial cycle. Our results indicate that total denudation rates were ∼2 times higher than present during the Last Glacial Maximum (26.5-19 ka), the glacial component of the denudation rates being 1.5. . mm a-1. However, during moderately glaciated times (74-29 ka), denudation rates were similar to today (0.24 ± 0.04 mm a-1). This suggests a nonlinear forcing of climate on denudation, mainly controlled by the interplay between glaciers velocity and basin topography. Hence, the onset of Quaternary glaciations, 2.6 million years ago, did not necessarily induce a synchronous global denudation pulse. How climate and climatic fluctuations affect denudation rates over geological timescales remains debated 1,2. Relying on sedimentation records 3 and thermochronology 4,5 several authors have reported increased denudation rates at the onset of Pleistocene glaciations around 2.6 Ma 6 either due to increased variability of Quaternary climatic cycles 3 or
Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following ... more Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available on the publisher Web site.
Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following ... more Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available on the publisher Web site.
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp... more &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The early development and growth of seamounts are poorly known as the birth of a volcano on the sea bottom has been rarely observed. The on-going Mayotte seismo-volcanic crisis is associated with the formation of a new seafloor volcano at a water depth of 3300 m and provides the opportunity to study its early development.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Four oceanographic cruises, MAYOBS 1 to 4, were carried out between May and July 2019 aboard the French R/V Marion Dufresne. High resolution bathymetry and backscatter data as well as sub-bottom profiler, gravity and magnetic profiles were collected during each cruise. A dense network of profiles has been achieved over the new volcano at different epochs, allowing to assess its detailed morphology and the evolution through time. During MAYOBS4, a deep-towed underwater camera provided sea bottom videos and photos on the volcano.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;First results indicate that the new volcano is still growing at the end of July 2019. Repetitive surveys in May, June and July 2019 allow to document the morphological evolution of the volcano, to estimate the volume of material emplaced between each epoch and to discuss the emitted lava rate.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The new volcano has a starfish shape and is now 820 m high. Steep slopes are observed close to the summit and several radial ridges developed from its central part, displaying hummocky morphology similar to the ones observed along mid oceanic axial volcanic ridges. At the bottom, flat areas with high backscatter could indicate channelized lava flows emplaced at higher effusion rates. The morphological analysis combined with video imagery brings constraints to the eruptive processes yielding to the formation of a nascent volcano.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
The study of modern carbonate systems is commonly helps in improving facies interpretation in fos... more The study of modern carbonate systems is commonly helps in improving facies interpretation in fossil reefs and in providing analogues of sediment distribution depending on the specific platform configuration (i.e. rimmed shelves and isolated carbonate platforms). This paper deals with a geomorphological and sedimentological study of the Glorieuses Archipelago, an isolated carbonate platform located between the northern tip of Madagascar and Mayotte. The dataset consists of Digital Terrain Model, satellite imagery, and box-sediment samples. Analyses of grain-size and composition of carbonate grains are used to characterize the distribution and heterogeneity of sediment accumulated on the isolated platform. Main results show that the Glorieuses Archipelago is organized in distinctive morphological units, including a reef flat developed along the windward side, an apron, and a semienclosed (< 12 m water depth) to open lagoon (> 12 m and up to 15 m water depth). The lack of carbonate mud in sediments deposited on the archipelago can be explained by the direct connection between the lagoon and the open ocean. The main carbonate grains include Halimeda segments, coral fragments, large benthic foraminifers, red algae, and molluscs. According to the shape and the position of intertidal sandwaves, the current arrangement of moderately sorted fine to medium sands appears to be strongly influenced by tidal currents. The in-situ sediment production, accumulation and transport on the platform finally contribute to carbonate sand export to distinct deep marine areas depending on wind regimes and currents.
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