F.J. Hernndez-Molina and colleagues characterize the present and ancient processes related to the Mediterranean Outflow Water and its evolution in the Gulf of Cadiz after it was funneled through the Strait of Gibraltar. They identify morphological features along the middle slope by first time, including two large and impressive erosive channels, which determine a new and more detailed understanding of the overflow pathway of the Mediterranean Outflow Water and its deceleration upon exiting the Strait of Gibraltar. There is evidence for a present along-slope circulation, and an additional secondary circulation oblique to the main flow. However, a denser, deeper, and faster Mediterranean Outflow Water circulation that prevailed during past cold climate times is proposed. This paper determines that the Mediterranean Outflow Water enhanced during the Late Pliocene-Early Quaternary (3.2 to >2.0 Ma), coeval with global cooling, a sea-level fall and an increase in Thermohaline Circulation. So, a direct link between the Mediterranean Outflow Water and the global water masses circulation and climate is suggested. Results from this research have a broad interest to geologists, climatologists, oceanographers and petroleum geologists.
Land-ocean changes on orbital and millennial time scales and the penultimate glaciation
Vasiliki Margari et al. (corresponding author: P.C. Tzedakis), Environmental Change Research Centre, Department of Geography, University College London, London
|Contact: Kea Giles|
Geological Society of America