Éditeur(s) : Gauthier-Villars
Résumé : Simple thermodynamics calculations are applied to processes of a rising plume within an environment of an upward directed gradient of viscosity in the uppermost mantle. Four stages of the development of passive margins are described. Following an initial regional uplift strong lateral movements are induced at asthenospheric levels, stretching the overlying lithosphere. In the second stage plume material also enters the low viscosity lower crust, replacing continental material and forming a new, higher crust-mantle boundary by gravitational differentiation. The inital phase lag between the laterally intruding plume material and the rest of the lithosphere disappears once the continent is rifted and sea floor spreading is established (= stage 3). Finally, at stage 4, quiet subsidence, controlled by contraction, sedimentation, and possible phase changes in the lower crust, is established. The sequence described is in accordance with many observations of geology and geophysics. Rising plumes and sinking slabs are considered equivalent expressions of the heat engine earth which determines global tectonics.
Oceanologica Acta, Special issue (0399-1784) (Gauthier-Villars), 1981

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00245/35658/34167.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00245/35658/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The Gulf of Cadiz lies astride the complex plate boundary between Africa and Eurasia west of the Betic-Rif mountain belt. We report on the results of recent bathymetric swathmapping and multi-channel seismic surveys carried out here. The seafloor is marked by contrasting morphological provinces, spanning the SW Iberian and NW Moroccan continental margins, abyssal plains and an elongate, arcuate, accretionary wedge. A wide variety of tectonic and gravitational processes appear to have shaped these structures. Active compressional deformation of the wedge is suggested by folding and thrusting of the frontal sedimentary layers as well as basal duplexing in deeper internal units. There is evidence for simultaneous gravitational spreading occurring upslope. The very shallow mean surface and basal slopes of the accretionary wedge (1° each) indicate a very weak decollement layer, geometrically similar to the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex. Locally steep slopes (up to 10°) indicate strongly focused, active deformation and potential gravitational instabilities. The unusual surface morphology of the upper accretionary wedge includes “raft-tectonics” type fissures and abundant sub-circular depressions. Dissolution and/or diapiric processes are proposed to be involved in the formation of these depressions.
ISSN: 0264-8172

insu-00401683
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00401683
DOI : 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2007.11.008

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Deep-seated gravitational spreading (DSGS) affects the slopes of formerly glaciated mountain ridges. On Mars, DSGS has played a key role in shaping the landforms of the giant Valles Marineris troughs. Though less spectacular, DSGS is common in terrestrial orogens, where understanding its mechanics is critical in the light of the ongoing climate change because it is a potential source of catastrophic landslides in deglaciated valleys. We conducted parametric numerical studies in order to identify important factors responsible for DSGS initiation. DSGS models are computed using an elastoviscoplastic finite element code. Using ADELI's software, we reproduce topographic ridge spreading under the effect of valley unloading. Two types of spreading topographic ridges are investigated, homogeneous or with horizontal rheological layering. We find that gravitational instabilities are enhanced by high slopes, which increase gravitational stress, and low friction and cohesion, which decrease yield stress. In the unlayered ridge, instability is triggered by glacial unloading with plastic strain concentration inside the ridge and at the base of the high slopes. Vertical fractures develop in the upper part of the slope, potentially leading to fault scarps. Ridge homogeneity promotes a deformation mode controlled by uphill-facing normal faulting and basal bulging. In the second case, the ridge encompasses horizontal geological discontinuities that induce rock mass anisotropy. Discontinuity located at the base of the slope accumulates plastic strain, leading to the formation of a sliding plane evolving into a landslide. The presence of a weak layer at ridge base therefore promotes another slope deformation mode ending up with catastrophic failure. Mechanical conditions and slope height being equal, these conclusions can probably be extrapolated to Earth. Compared with Mars, DSGS on Earth is inhibited because terrestrial topographic gradients are lower than in Valles Marineris, an effect counterbalanced by increased gravitational stress, where the intensity of deformation is enhanced because of the Earth gravity potential.
ISSN: 0169-555X

hal-01420007
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01420007
DOI : 10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.06.011

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The Gibraltar arc, spans a complex portion of the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary marked by slow oblique convergence and intermediate and deep focus seismicity. The seemingly contradictory observations of a young extensional marine basin surrounded by an arcuate fold-and-thrust belt, have led to competing geodynamic models (delamination and subduction). Geophysical data acquired in the past decade provide a test for these models and support a narrow east-dipping, subduction zone. Seismic refraction studies indicate oceanic crust below the western Gulf of Cadiz. Tomography of the upper mantle reveals a steep, east-dipping high P-wave velocity body, beneath Gibraltar. The anisotropic mantle fabric from SKS splitting shows arc-parallel "fast directions", consistent with toroidal flow around a narrow, westward retreating subducting slab. The accompanying WSW advance of the Rif-Betic mountain belt has constructed a thick pile of deformed sediments, an accretionary wedge, characterized by west-vergent thrust anticlines. Bathymetric swath‐mapping images an asymmetric embayment at the deformation front where a 2 km high basement ridge has collided. Subduction has slowed significantly since 5 Ma, but deformation of recent sediments and abundant mud volcanoes suggest ongoing activity in the accretionary wedge. Three possible origins for this deformation are discussed; gravitational spreading, overall NW-SE convergence between Africa and Iberia and finally a WSW tectonic push from slow, but ongoing roll-back subduction. In the absence of arc volcanism and shallow dipping thrust type earthquakes, evidence in favor of present-day subduction can only be indirect and remains the object of debate. Continued activity of the subduction offers a possible explanation for great (M > 8.5) earthquakes known to affect the area, like the famous 1755 Great Lisbon earthquake. Recent GPS studies show SW motion of stations in N Morocco at velocities of 3-6 mm/yr indicating the presence of an independent block, a "Rif-Betic-Alboran" microplate, situated between Iberia and Africa.
ISSN: 0040-1951

insu-00769762
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00769762
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2012.08.038

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Wiley-Blackwell
Résumé : International audience
We explore the tectono-magmatic processes in the western West Philippine Basin, Philippine Sea Plate, using bathymetric data acquired in 2003 and 2004. The northwestern part of the basin formed through a series of northwestward propagating rifts. We identify at least five sequences of propagating rifts, probably triggered by mantle flow away from the mantle thermal anomaly that is responsible for the origin of the Benham and Urdenata plateaus. Gravitational forces caused by along-axis topographic gradient and a ∼30° ridge reorientation appear to also be driving the rift propagations. The along-axis mantle flow appears to be reduced and deflected along the Luzon-Okinawa fracture zone, because the spreading system remained stable west of this major fault zone. North-east of the Benham plateau, a left-lateral fracture zone has turned into a NE–SW-trending spreading axis. As a result, a microplate developed at the triple junction.
ISSN: 0954-4879

insu-00304360
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00304360
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2008.00824.x

Éditeur(s) : Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes (ENSAR)
Résumé : Artificial Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) are known to concentrate tropical tunas. This aggregative behaviour drastically increases the vulnerability of these species to fishing. Alternatively, FADs can be used as oceanic observatories to study the aggregative behaviour of large pelagic fish. We conducted sea surveys in Martinique (Lesser Antilles) to i) establish a typology of the pelagic fish aggregations found around moored FADs ii) study their relations with their biotic and abiotic environment and the local fishery. The mean biomass of large pelagic fish aggregations was also estimated to provide scientific inputs to achieve a sustainable management of the moored FAD fishery. The first part presents the background of the study. We introduce the regional pelagic ecosystem, the aggregative behaviour of pelagic fish around FADs and the Martinican moored FAD fishery. The second part begins with a presentation of the conceptual framework of the study: the hierarchy theory. Observation scales and survey methodology are therefore described. Repeated echosounder surveys run in a star pattern were conducted around 2 moored FADs, in combination with underwater video observations, classical fishing experiments and CTD profiles. In the third part, the elements of the [moored FAD ¿ pelagic fish - environment - fishing] system and their interactions are numerically characterised in the vertical plane. The main type of pelagic fish aggregation was a large aggregation distributed in sub-surface (40-100 m) within a radius of 400 m of the FAD. This aggregation was mostly made of 60 cm FL blackfin tunas (Thunnus atlanticus). It appeared at sunrise and mostly spread away in the late afternoon. It was observed during all daytime surveys. The average density and the vertical structure of the micronektonic sound scattering layers (SSLs) were assessed locally around a FAD for 48h cycles. These SSLs descriptors showed positive correlation with the size and the abundance of the sub-surface tuna aggregation. Whereas this aggregation accounted for about 95% of the total biomass aggregated around a moored FAD, it was nearly unexploited by the local commercial fishermen. The fourth part focuses on the sub-surface tuna aggregation. A high variability of the spatial distribution of the aggregation was evidenced in the horizontal plane at daily, day to day and monthly temporal scales. These variations were related to fluctuations of the global abundance of the aggregation. The daytime average density of sub-surface tuna was modelled as a function of the distance to FAD, within an advection-diffusion framework. Based on these results, a universal kriging model was designed to assess the mean maximum daily biomass of the sub-surface tuna aggregation. This mean biomass estimate yielded 11 tons with an estimation error of 26%. To conclude, we present a hierarchical organization in space and time of a sub-surface tuna population distributed within a network of moored FADs, from micro to meso-scale. We suggest that the spatial distribution of tunas can be explained from fine to coarse-scales by behavioural processes (self-organization, feeding, aggregative behaviour) whereas their spatial distribution is mainly forced by environmental processes at broader scales.
L'utilisation de Dispositifs de Concentration de Poissons permet de provoquer la formation de larges agrégations de thonidés autour de dispositifs artificiels, ce qui augmente considérablement la vulnérabilité de ces ressources vis-à-vis de l'exploitation halieutique. Les DCP peuvent également être utilisés en tant qu'observatoires océaniques, afin d'étudier le comportement agrégatif du macronecton pélagique. Nous avons ainsi réalisé des observations autour de DCP ancrés en Martinique, afin de définir une typologie des agrégations de macronecton et de étudier leurs relations avec leur environnement biotique, abiotique et l'exploitation halieutique locale. Nous avons ensuite estimé la biomasse moyenne de macronecton agrégé autour d'un DCP ancré, afin de fournir des éléments scientifiques nécessaires à une gestion durable de ces ressources. La première partie présente le contexte de l'étude i.e. l'écosystème pélagique régional, le phénomène d'agrégation du macronecton autour des DCP et la pêche associée aux DCP ancrés en Martinique. La deuxième partie introduit la théorie de la hiérarchie qui a fourni le cadre conceptuel de l'étude et présente les échelles et méthodes d'observation. Le principal outil d'observation est un échosondeur scientifique, mis en oeuvre le long de parcours en étoile autour du DCP. Les prospections acoustiques ont été combinées à des observations vidéo sous marines, des pêches expérimentales et un suivi in-situ de l'environnement abiotique. La troisième partie présente une typologie des éléments constituant le système [DCP ancré - macronecton - environnement - pêche] dans le plan vertical et précise leurs interactions. Le type d'agrégation de macronecton dominant est une grande agrégation composée d'une majorité de thons noirs (Thunnus atlanticus) de taille moyenne (60 cm) distribuée en sub-surface (40-100 m), dans un rayon de 300 m autour de la tête des DCP. Cette agrégation se forme au lever du soleil et se disperse presque totalement dans l'après midi. Elle a été observée de jour lors de toutes les campagnes. Une corrélation positive entre la densité et la structure moyenne des couches micronectoniques diurnes évaluée localement autour du DCP au cours de 48 h et les dimensions et l'énergie acoustique de l'agrégation de thons de subs-surface a été mise en évidence. Malgré le fait que cette agrégation représente en moyenne 95 % de l'énergie acoustique du macronecton autour des DCP, elle est presque inexploitée par les pêcheurs artisans locaux. La quatrième partie met en évidence les fortes variations conjointes de la distribution spatiale dans le plan horizontal de la densité de l'agrégation de thons de sub-surface et de son abondance globale. Ces variations ont été observées au cours du cycle nycthéméral et aux échelles inter-journalières et mensuelles. La distribution spatiale moyenne de la densité diurne de l'agrégation en fonction de la distance au centre de gravité de l'agrégation est cependant très stable et peut être modélisée au moyen d'une équation d'advection-diffusion. Un modèle de krigeage universel, utilisant les résultats du modèle d'advection-diffusion, a permis d'évaluer la biomasse maximale journalière moyenne de l'agrégation de thons de sub-surface à une dizaine de tonnes, avec un coefficient de variation d'estimation de 26%. Nous proposons une représentation hiérarchique synthétique de la distribution spatiale d'une sous-population de thons dans un réseau de DCP ancrés de la micro à la méso-échelle. Nous suggérons que la distribution spatiale des thons est déterminée principalement à l'échelle fine (100m-1km) et à l'échelle grossière (1-10 km) par des processus comportementaux (auto-organisation, agrégation, nutrition) et par des processus environnementaux à échelle plus large.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/these-1735.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2006/sup-1735.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1735/