By studying multichannel seismic data across the continental slope and rise of the eastern Riiser Larsen Sea and through a comparison with other East Antarctic continental margins, the base of the glaciomarine deposits has been traced in this area. The seismic data reveal the presence of large channel-levee complexes as well as multiple types of contourite accumulations. Downslope and alonglope processes thus interacted in forming the glaciomarine deposits. The deposits are attributed to the advances of ice sheet, delivering huge amounts of sediment to the shelf edge and upper slope during glacial maxima. Oversteepening and instability generated down-slope turbidity currents forming channel-levee complexes whereas the contourite accumulations were probably mostly formed during interglacials. The spatial distribution of the current controlled deposits indicates that bottom currents flow along the western slope of the Gunnerus Ridge.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-15
Number of pages15
JournalMarine Geology
Volume207
Issue number1-4
DOIs
StatePublished - 30 Jun 2004

    Scopus subject areas

  • Oceanography
  • Geology
  • Geochemistry and Petrology

    Research areas

  • Antarctica, contourites, glaciomarine deposits, Gunnerus Ridge, Riiser-Larsen Sea, seismics, turbidites

ID: 35965354