UPPER SEDIMENTARY COVER STRUCTURE OF THE ROMANCHE TRANSFORM VALLEY FROM SEISMOACOUSTIC DATA (EQUATORIAL ATLANTIC)
Popov M.S.1, Borisov D.G.1, Levchenko O.V.1, Frey D.I.1,2, Ivanova E.V.1
1Shirshov Institute оf Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
2Marine Hydrophysical Institute
2Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sevastopol, Russia
Keywords: sub-bottom profiling, sediment, seismic facies, echo-facies
Abstract
The Romanche Fracture Zone plays a crucial role in the distribution of Antarctic Bottom Water between the western and eastern Atlantic. However, the influence of bottom currents and other processes on the sediment infilling of the Romanche valley remains understudied. A large set of high-resolution sub-bottom profiling data was used in this work to solve this issue. The interpretation of the results was supported by numerical modeling of bottom current velocities using an ocean circulation model. The first comprehensive map of echo character distribution along the entire transform valley was built, revealing detailed sediment distribution patterns. The study assessed the modern and past influence of bottom currents on sedimentation and identified areas of intense gravity flow activity. The results highlight the Romanche valley as a promising area for studying the history of water exchange between the western and eastern Atlantic.
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