• NEANIAS Underwater Research Community
• Closed Access close

[1] Tomographic images constrain the existence of a subducted seamount beneath the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica. The subducted seamount is found at a depth of 30 km within the rupture area of the March 25, 1990, Mw = 7.0 Gulf of Nicoya earthquake. The Gulf of Nicoya earthquake was a typical thrust-type subduction earthquake and occurred on a shallow dipping thrust fault parallel or along the boundary between the subducting Cocos plate and the overriding plate. Precise relocation of the mainshock and its aftershocks in a 3-D P-wave velocity model shows that the area of the mainshock rupture is coincident with the imaged subducted seamount. Most of the aftershocks are relocated within or close to the inferred subducted seamount above the subducting oceanic plate. We interpret the subducted seamount as an asperity whose rupture caused the 1990 Gulf of Nicoya earthquake.

We conclude this book by considering three challenges and opportunities that are shared by all fields of submarine geomorphological research: (i) big data at multiple spatio-temporal scales, (ii) direct observation, and (iii) interaction with subaerial geomorphologists.

Abstract We present an empirical model of the gravitational field generated by the oceanic lithosphere computed over the world’s oceans with a spectral resolution complete to a spherical harmonic degree of 180. This gravity model is compiled based on applying methods for a spherical harmonic analysis and synthesis of the global gravity and crustal structure models. The in situ seawater densities and the density samples from ocean-floor drilling sites are utilized in the gravimetric forward modeling of bathymetry and marine sediments. The gravitational signal attributed to the oceanic lithosphere density structure is described empirically in terms of the ocean-floor age and depth. The former is explained by the increasing density with age due to conductive cooling of the oceanic lithosphere. The latter describes the gravitational signature of thermal lithospheric contraction, which is isostatically compensated by ocean deepening. The long-wavelength gravity spectrum reflects mainly the compositional and thermal structures within the sub-lithospheric mantle. We demonstrate that this empirical gravity model reproduces realistically most of the long-to-medium wavelength features of the actual gravity field, except for some systematic discrepancies, especially along continental slopes and large sedimentary accumulations, which cannot be described accurately by applied empirical models.

The global flux of tidal energy to mixing processes via topographically generated internal waves is estimated utilizing gridded databases for bathymetry, vertical density stratification and barotropic tides together with a simple, local model for the generation of progressive internal tides at vertical steps in the ocean floor. Both the horizontal distribution of the energy flux to internal tides and its ocean mean are discussed. The computed oceanic mean value is 44 × 10−4W m−2, a factor of about 2–3 greater than previous estimates (Munk, 1966, Deep-Sea Research, 13, 707–730; Bell, 1975, Journal of Geophysical Research, 80, 320–327). The global distribution of vertical diffusivity in the abyss is computed by assuming that topographically generated baroclinic motions dissipate locally and that the dissipation is distributed vertically according to an empirical law. Our results are linearly dependent on the flux Richardson number Rf. From the computed vertical diffusivities and the known vertical stratification we finally compute the global distribution of vertical velocities. Choosing a value of Rf≈0.05 we obtain an upward vertical transport in the interior of the ocean, at the 1000 m level, of about 15 × 106m3s−1, which agrees with Warren's (1981, in: Evolution of physical oceanography, B. A. Warren and C. Wunsch, editors, 6–41) estimated rate of sinking from surface waters at high latitudes. Below the 1000 m level the upward vertical transport increases and a maximum value of about 25 × 106m3s−1 is found at the 2000 m level, after which the transport decreases to about 8 × 106m3s−1 at the 4000 m level. This may be explained by the action of bottom currents. These currents entrain ambient water whereby the upward interior vertical transports tend to increase with depth. However, because of the entrainment of lighter ambient fluid the dense currents become less dense and only the most dense flows penetrate to the greatest depths.

Abstract Carbonate sedimentary successions that developed on isolated oceanic islands typically comprise a series of unconformity-bounded packages of strata that reflect eustatic sea level changes superimposed on local tectonic movements. Resolving the subsidence and/or uplift of these islands, which are often assumed to have simple tectonic histories, is challenging because the tectonic movements are commonly of similar magnitudes to the eustatic oscillations. The uncertainty associated with each of the components involved in the construction of subsidence diagrams (e.g., age constraints, decompaction, eustatic sea level curves, paleobathymetry), therefore, introduces significant error margins when assessing the tectonic histories of isolated carbonate platforms. By using two end-member subsidence diagrams for the Paleogene to Neogene successions on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, it can be shown that their subsidence rates were heterogeneous over time and that the evolution of these islands vary significantly even though they are situated in the same basin. Although these islands, located 150 km apart, were subject to uniform changes in eustatic sea level, they have different stratigraphic architectures owing to their independent tectonic histories. From the Oligocene to the late Pliocene, the tectonic histories of Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac were analogous, and they subsided at a rate of 5.6 to 9.9 m/Myr. From the late Pliocene to ~400 ka, however, northeast Cayman Brac was uplifted by 165 m and tilted with a rotational axis offshore from the southwest end of the island, whereas Grand Cayman was uplifted by ~10 m with no rotational component. The results of this study challenge the assumption that isolated carbonate platforms have simple tectonic histories, while exploring and highlighting the common problems that are encountered with the construction of subsidence diagrams.

The topographic structure of the ocean bottom is investigated at different scales of resolution to answer the question: Can the seafloor be described as a fractal process? Methods from geostatistics, the theory of regionalized variables, are used to analyze the spatial structure of the ocean floor at different scales of resolution. The key to the analysis is the variogram criterion: Self-similarity of a stochastic process implies self-similarity of its variogram. The criterion is derived and proved here: it also is valid for special cases of self-affinity (in a sense adequate for topography). It has been proposed that seafloor topography can be simulated as a fractal (an object of Hausdorff dimension strictly larger than its topological dimension), having scaling properties (self-similarity or self-affinity). The objective of this study is to compare the implications of these concepts with observations of the seafloor. The analyses are based on SEABEAM bathymetric data from the East Pacific Rise at 13°N/104°W and at 9°N/104°W and use tracks that run both across the ridge crest and along the ridge flank. In the geostatistical evaluation, the data are considered as a stochastic process. The spatial continuity of this process is described by variograms that are calculated for different scales and directions. Applications of the variogram criterion to scale-dependent variogram models yields the following results: Although the seafloor may be a fractal in the sense of the definition involving the Hausdorff dimension, it is not self-similar, nor self-affine (in the given sense). Mathematical models of scale-dependent spatial structures are presented, and their relationship to geologic processes such as ridge evolution, crust formation, and sedimentation is discussed.

Glide planes, the basal surface or failure surface upon which submarine landslides initiate, commonly develop along weak, distinctive stratigraphic horizons but their lithological/mechanical characteristics and genetic mechanisms remain largely unknown. We use 2-D multi-channel seismic reflection data, integrated with multibeam bathymetry and deep drilling data from the Ulleung Basin margins, East (Japan) Sea, to: (1) identify and characterize the nature of glide planes associated with submarine landslides; (2) understand the influence of climate-modulated factors in preconditioning slope failures; and (3) document the post-failure evolution of the landslides. 24 glide planes were identified among 38 submarine slides (SL1 – SL38), which correspond to regionally continuous, positive-polarity high-amplitude seismic reflections. Well-seismic integration support ca. 340 ka – 1,200 ka ages of formation of the major glide planes in the southwestern and western margins of the basin. These glide planes developed at the interface between clay-rich sediment deposited during glacial periods and biogenic diatom-rich sediments deposited during interglacial periods. Physical, mineralogical and geochemical properties determined by density, porosity, gamma-ray, shear strength, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence data reveal significant lithological and mechanical changes at the interface between these two lithologies. We therefore infer that these interfaces dictate the position of failure surfaces, with the diatom-rich layers acting as a weak layer. Excess pore pressure in these layers is likely due to initial high-water contents (up to 75%) and high compressibility; this is considered an important pre-condition for failure. In contrast, the glide planes along the northwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin (SL34 – 37) are older (ca. 1,200 ka – 2,140 ka). Seismic data further reveal three distinct contrasting styles of landslide post-failure behavior throughout the margins: (1) evacuated slide scars with areas of smooth seafloor; (2) slide scars with residual debris consisting of blocky sediments; and (3) slide scars with buried intact sediment blocks in front of the headwalls. Lateral variability of fluid flow, sediment composition, and mechanical properties of basal ‘weak’ layer(s), or the magnitude of earthquakes may have contributed to forming different types of mass-transport deposits (MTDs). Overall, these results show that landslide formation in the East (Japan) Sea result from a complex climatic, volcanic and tectonic interplay that controlled the formation of weak layers. Some of these layers extend regionally and can be identified and mapped by remote geophysical methods and targeted drilling This study was supported by ‘Geological survey in the Korean Peninsula and publication of the geological maps’ Project (GP2020-009) funded by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE; currently Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy: MOTIE), Korea, and the research fund of the Chungnam National University. D. Cukur was supported by the KIGAM project (research fund number: 22-3111-2). S.H. Lee is supported by the KIOST Basic Project (PE99941). R.U. is supported by project PID2020-114856RB-100 / AEI / 10.13039/501100011033 24 pages, 18 figures, 2 tables, supplementary material https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2022.106956.-- Data availability statement: Supporting of the data were provided by the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) under confidential status and the restrictions do not allow open sharing of the proprietary data used in this research. The data can be available upon reasonable request made to the authors with permission from the KIGAM With the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S) Peer reviewed

Benthic organisms in marine ecosystems modify the environment on different spatial and temporal scales. These modifications, many of which are initially at a microscale, are likely to have large scale effects on benthic seascapes. This is especially so if the species are ecosystem engineers. Most species of infaunal and epifaunal invertebrates and macrophytes contribute at a geophysical or geochemical level. Microorganisms also play a key but currently neglected role. In the intertidal and immediately sublittoral zone, algae and seagrasses, and mussels in mussel beds have received considerable attention. A substantial fossil record also exists. Mathematical modelling of these systems is still in its infancy, although several sophisticated mathematical tools have been applied. The effects of bioturbation and of microorganisms have been less studied, and little is known about the activities of benthic organisms in the deep sea. This paper addresses all these effects, and places them in the context of large scale benthic seascapes and of the extensive literature on species defined as ecosystem engineers in the sea.

Abstract Mesoscale eddies are ubiquitous in the ocean and play a key role in exchanges across continental slopes. In this study the properties of wind-driven baroclinic turbulence are investigated using eddy-resolving process simulations, focusing on the case of retrograde winds that arises around the margins of the subtropical gyres. In contrast to a flat-bottomed ocean, over steep slopes eddies develop from baroclinic instabilities are confined to the top few hundred meters. Deeper in the water column baroclinic instability and vertical momentum transfer are suppressed, so wind-input momentum is exported toward the open ocean by eddies before traversing down to the ocean bed. Close to the sloping topography, eddy energy sourced from the upper ocean is converted to potential energy, steepening isopycnals and driving bottom-trapped prograde flows. This process is associated with upgradient lateral buoyancy fluxes and downgradient isopycnal potential vorticity fluxes, and cannot be reproduced via linear stability calculations. These properties of wind-driven shelf/slope turbulence are contrasted against simulations with flat bathymetry. The key differences described above hinge on the flow close to the steep topographic slope, which may be sensitive to the model’s vertical coordinate system. The simulations are therefore replicated using models that employ geopotential coordinates, terrain-following coordinates, and isopycnal coordinates. Quantitative inter-model discrepancies in the momentum and energy budgets are much more pronounced in the presence of a steep bottom slope. However, the key findings of this study are consistent across the models, suggesting that they are robust and warrant incorporation into parameterizations of eddy transfer across continental slopes.

The paper documents numerical modelling exercises designed to reproduce the Proudman resonance on a shelf. Various sinusoidal air pressure disturbances were simulated to travel over the homogeneous waters on a flat or slope bathymetry, qualifying and quantifying the strength of resonance and near-resonance processes in the sea. The results were discussed in light of the worldwide documented destructive meteotsunami events, putting the attention particularly on the effects of the disturbance wavelength, on the weakening of the resonance in near-resonant conditions and on the effect of a slope to the resonance strength.