Evaluating the role of physical mechanisms as possible triggers for turbidity currents in a deep ocean seamount
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.
Authors
- Jordi F. López (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8255-483X)
- María Isabel Reguera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7426-5437)
- Raphaël Hébert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9869-4658)
- Claire Waelbroeck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7256-5727)
- Laura Antón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1888-7776)
- Belén Martrat (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9904-9178)
- Simon J Crowhurst (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2859-5301)
- Susana Lebreiro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1478-2448)
- Rocío Lozano-Luz
- Silvia Osorio Nave (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0845-1044)
- Álvaro Peliz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1649-5151)
- Alejandra Lopez-Rodriguez
Institutions
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- University of Lisbon (PT)
- Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (ES)
- National Laboratory of Energy and Geology (PT)
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (ES)
- Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat : Expérimentations et Approches Numériques (FR)
- Department of Earth Sciences (RU)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Deep Sea Research Part I Oceanographic Research Papers
- Published
- 2025-07-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2025.104557
- Primary Topic
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge
- Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación