Large Sediment Waves Over the Gulf of Roses Continental Slope (NW Mediterranean)

Abstract

Recently acquired swath bathymetry and seismic datasets on the Gulf of Roses continental slope revealed the presence of large sediment waves that have developed between ~200 and ~400 m water depth. Geometric parameters were computed from the multibeam dataset and the obtained results showed mean sediment wave lengths of ~2000 m and maximum heights of ~60 m. The analysis of seismic profiles showed the general architecture of the Late Quaternary deposits over the Gulf of Roses outer shelf and slope. The outer continental shelf is characterized by morphological erosional features affecting the upper part of the most recent seismic unit. Over the continental slope five main unconformity-bounded seismic units are differentiated, with sediment waves developed in all of them. The sediment waves observed over the continental slope are presumably generated by bottom currents intensified during major dense shelf water cascading events flowing downslope at an oblique angle with respect to the main bathymetry.