Oceanographic processes and products around the Iberian margin: a new multidisciplinary approach : Procesos oceanográficos y sus productos alrededor del margen de Iberia: una nueva aproximación multidisciplinar

• Our understanding of the role of bottom-current and associated oceanographic processes (as overflows, barotropic currents, tides or intermittent processes like giant vertical eddies, deep sea storms, horizontal vortices, internal waves and tsunamis) is rapidly improving. But, most of these oceanographic deep-water processes remains poorly understood and have been rarely observed but believed to be capable of generating depositional and erosional features in many contexts at both short and long term. In present compilation we described these oceanographic processes including examples or their potential role in the sedimentation processes around the Iberia margin. Importance of these processes is highlighted and its implication discussed to demonstrate that these oceanographic processes are very important is affecting the shape and evolution of the Iberian continental margin and adjacent oceanic basins although is not still considered as important as other factors as mass-transport deposits and turbiditic processes. To have a better understanding on the implication of all these oceanographic processes connections have to be made between (contourite) sea-floor features, their spatial and temporal evolution, and the near-bottom flows that form them. The only way to achieve that in next decades is by a more intensive collaboration between specialist from Geology, Oceanography and Benthic Biology in new multi-disciplinary studies. Consequently, further multi-disciplinary approach uses oceanographic data, sea-floor morphology, sediments and seismic characterization will be essential for improve our knowledge of these permanent and intermittent processes around Iberia and evaluate their conceptual and regional role in the margins evolution over time and space.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Oceanografi, hydrologi och vattenresurser (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Oceanography, Hydrology and Water Resources (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Contourites

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)