Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : The Okinawa Trough is a natural laboratory for the study of later Quaternary land-ocean interaction and paleoenvironmental changes. In this study we reconstruct the evolution of clay mineral assemblages in Core DGKS9604 retrieved from the central Okinawa Trough. Illite dominates the clay mineral compositions, with average contents above 60%. Clay mineral evolution since 28 ka is closely related to changes in sediment provenance and paleoenvironment. Sea level rise and the strength of the Kuroshio Current control the dispersal and deposition of clays on the East China Sea shelf and in the Okinawa Trough, and thus, determine the clay mineral compositions in the core sediments. During the late last glacial period (28.0-14.0 ka), the paleo-Changjiang River mouth was situated at the shelf edge close to the central Okinawa Trough and thus, together with the outer shelf, supplied large volumes of terrigenous sediments directly into the trough. From 14.0 to 8.4 ka influence from the Changjiang decreased while the mid-outer shelf of the East China Sea became the dominant sediment source to the central Okinawa Trough as sea level rose and the Changjiang river mouth migrated west. Strong sediment reworking and erosion at the shelf edge at 15-13 ka significantly increased the lateral transport of fine-grained shelf sediments to the central Okinawa Trough. Since ca. 8.4 ka clays from Taiwan have dominated the sediment flux to the site, coinciding with the re-entry of the Kuroshio Current into the trough. The increasing influence of the Changjiang-sourced sediments since 1.5 ka was probably related to the weakening of the Kuroshio Current and/or a higher river flux. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (0031-0182) (Elsevier), 2010-03 , Vol. 288 , N. 1-4 , P. 108-117

Droits : 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00002/11367/7977.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.01.040
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00002/11367/

Résumé : Digitized with funding from the Digital Library of the Caribbean grant awarded by TICFIA.
South America -- Aruba -- Fundacion Salba Nos Burico
Caribbean

Droits : Copyright, Erich Kesse, 2008. May be used in accord with Creative Commons license allowing Attribution + Noncommercial + ShareAlike (by-nc-sa).

Éditeur(s) : American Geophysical Union
Résumé : We use seismic reflection and rock sample data to propose that the first-order physiography of New Caledonia Trough and Norfolk Ridge formed in Eocene and Oligocene time and was associated with the onset of subduction and back-arc spreading at the Australia-Pacific plate boundary. Our tectonic model involves an initial Cretaceous rift that is strongly modified by Cenozoic subduction initiation. Hence, we are able to explain (1) complex sedimentary basins of inferred Mesozoic age; (2) a prominent unconformity and onlap surface of middle Eocene to early Miocene age at the base of flat-lying sediments beneath the axis of New Caledonia Trough; (3) gently dipping, variable thickness, and locally deformed Late Cretaceous strata along the margins of the trough; (4) platform morphology and unconformities on either side of the trough that indicate a phase of late Eocene to early Miocene uplift to near sea level, followed by rapid Oligocene and Miocene subsidence of similar to 1100-1800 m; and (5) seismic reflection facies tied to boreholes that suggest absolute tectonic subsidence at the southern end of New Caledonia Trough by 1800-2200 m since Eocene time. The Cenozoic part of the model involves delamination and subduction initiation followed by rapid foundering and rollback of the slab. This created a deep (>2 km) enclosed oceanic trough, similar to 2000 km long and 200-300 km across, in Eocene and Oligocene time as the lower crust detached, with simultaneous uplift and local land development along basin flanks. Disruption of Late Cretaceous and Paleogene strata was minimal during this Cenozoic phase and involved only subtle tilting and local reverse faulting or folding. Basin formation was possible through the action of at least one detachment fault that allowed the lower crust to either be subducted into the mantle or exhumed eastward into Norfolk Basin. We suggest that delamination of the lithosphere, with possible mixing of the lower crust back into the mantle, is more widespread than previously thought and may be commonly associated with subduction initiation, such as Cenozoic events in the Mediterranean and western Pacific.
Tectonics (0278-7407) (American Geophysical Union), 2010-03 , Vol. 29 , N. TC2004 , P. 1-16

Droits : Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00001/11271/9283.pdf
DOI:10.1029/2009TC002476
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00001/11271/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The Gulf of Cadiz spans the plate boundary between Africa and Eurasia west of the Betic–Rif mountain belt. A narrow east dipping subduction zone descends beneath the Gulf of Cadiz and the straits of Gibraltar. The deep crustal structure of the Gulf and the adjacent SW Iberian and Moroccan margins is constrained by numerous multi-channel seismic reflection and wide-angle seismic surveys. A compilation of these existing studies is presented in the form of depth to basement, sediment thickness, depth to Moho and crustal thickness maps. These structural maps image an E–W trending trough, with thin (< 10 km) crust beneath the Gulf of Cadiz. This trough is filled by an eastward thickening wedge of sediments, reaching a thickness of 10–15 km in the eastern Gulf. These sediments are tectonically deformed, primarily along a series of westward-vergent thrust faults and represent a 200–250 km wide accretionary wedge. The northern and especially the southern limits of the accretionary wedge are marked by sharp morphological lineaments showing evidence of recent deformation. These tectonic limits are situated in an internal position with respect to the Miocene deformation front (external Betic and Rif allocthons), which has been abandoned. At the western boundary of the accretionary wedge, near the adjacent Seine and Horseshoe abyssal plains, an E–W trending basement high (Coral Patch Ridge) can be seen indenting the deformation front in an asymmetric manner. Analog modeling is performed using granular materials accreted against a semicircular backstop (representing the basement of the Rif and Betic mountain belts). The modeling initially produces a symmetric, arcuate accretionary wedge. The ensuing collision of an oblique rigid indenter retards accretion on one side, resulting in an embayment and a locally steeper deformation front. The deformation pattern observed in morphology and high-resolution seismic profiles suggests the accretionary wedge and underlying subduction system is still active. The implications of active subduction for the source region of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake and the regional seismic hazard assessment are discussed.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00424922
http://hal.univ-brest.fr/hal-00424922
http://hal.univ-brest.fr/hal-00424922/document
http://hal.univ-brest.fr/hal-00424922/file/Gutscher_09Tphys_rev.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2008.11.031

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
The active collision zone around Taiwan orogen receives a variety of sedimentary inputs, including terrigenous flux from Taiwan and Chinese rivers, oceanic currents and atmospheric dust. In order to determine the present-day respective contributions of these different sources, we analysed the Pb and Sr isotopic compositions of late Quaternary sediments accumulated offshore east Taiwan. Samples from the Taiwan Coastal Range (andesites, sandstones, conglomerate and Peinan River terraces and suspended loads) have also been analysed to constrain the mean Taiwan isotopic signature. Mixing lines between the different sources of material indicate that the core located in the Okinawa Trough represents a mixture of about 60% of Taiwan, 30% of Chinese Loess and 10% of Yangtze River contributions. The southernmost core, located close to Luzon Are, is influenced by Taiwan (60%) and volcanic material (40%). The Sr and Pb isotopic compositions of samples cored in the Manila Trench and in the Huatung Basin are strongly influenced by the Taiwan signature, while the Ryukyu Trench core samples point to significant but variable contributions of Chinese Loess and Yangtze River. This work also reports Zn isotopic variations in the silicate fraction of these marine core samples. The overall variation in Zn isotopic compositions (expressed as 666 Zn) is greater than 0.3 per mil (parts per thousand) for an analytical precision of +/- 0.05 parts per thousand. The Zn isotopic signal for most of the marine core samples is similar to the literature data measured on sedimentary material, except for the Manila Trench core samples and the older sample from the Huatung Basin: they present values heavier by 0.2-0.3 parts per thousand, close to those obtained on all Taiwan rocks and Peinan River particulates. These results show: 1- the particular characteristics of Taiwan Zn isotopic compositions on a large scale; and: 2- the possible use of Zn isotopes as a tracer of material sources.
ISSN: 0009-2541

hal-00412214
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412214
DOI : 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2007.10.024

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier Science Bv
Résumé : The late Quaternary paleoceanography and paleoenvironment in the Okinawa Trough, East China Sea, have been well reconstructed over the last decade, while in contrast the provenance of terrigenous sediments that have accumulated there remains enigmatic. In this study, rare earth elements (REE) were used to investigate provenance changes in sediments from Core DGKS9604, taken from the middle Okinawa Trough. Discrimination plots based on REE fractionation parameters suggest that the cored sediments have variable provenances over the last 30 ka, with the lower part (ca. 31-8.2 ka) ultimately originating mostly from the Changjiang (Yangtze River) and the upper part (7.1-0 ka) primarily from Taiwan. During the Last Glacial Maximum and early deglacial period, sea level was low and the main stream of the Kuroshio Current was deflected to the east of the Ryukyu Islands. As a result the Changjiang-derived sediments might have dominated sedimentation of the middle Okinawa Trough. However, since about 7 ka the main stream of the Kuroshio Current strengthened in the area of the trough, as sea level approximated the modern position. This caused near-bottom transport of fine-grained sediments from the continental margin to the trough to become weak and instead, Taiwan-derived terrigenous sediments dominated in the middle trough. The changing provenances of terrigenous sediments into the middle Okinawa Trough are closely related to the evolution of oceanic circulation and sea level in the East China Sea. Two tephra layers in the core have distinct REE compositions and correlate well with two volcanic eruptions at 7.6 and 25.8 ka in southern Japan. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Marine Geology (0025-3227) (Elsevier Science Bv), 2010-09 , Vol. 275 , N. 1-4 , P. 212-220

Droits : 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00013/12459/9402.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.margeo.2010.06.002
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00013/12459/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Polygonal faulting is a widespread phenomenon in sedimentary basins worldwide. It changes basin-scale fluid flow patterns and alters the physical properties of the sediments making it important for hydrocarbon exploration and geohazard analysis. It is generally accepted that polygonal fault patterns derive from dewatering and compaction of the host sediments, but there is debate regarding the processes that control polygonal faulting. New multibeam-bathymetry data from the Hatton Basin, NE Atlantic, show up to 10 m deep and 200-600 m wide troughs at the seabed. They connect to each other forming polygons that are several hundred metres across, i.e. of similar size as buried polygonal fault systems observed in 3D seismic data. The troughs are symmetrical and resemble elongated pockmarks. Previously unpublished high-resolution 2D seismic data from the same area show seismic disturbance zones similar to pipes observed under pockmarks elsewhere as well as faults that have all the characteristics of polygonal fault systems. The observation of the wide disturbance zones is enigmatic, as they appear to follow the polygonal seafloor pattern. The observed extent of the polygonal sediment contraction system is substantial covering almost 37,000 km2. We calculate that some 2600 km3 of possibly carbon-bearing fluids have been expelled from this system and we expect that this will affect the benthic ecosystems, although so far there is only limited evidence for chemosynthetic habitats.
ISSN: 0025-3227

hal-00772468
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00772468
DOI : 10.1016/j.margeo.2012.09.013

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Annual Reviews
Résumé : International audience
The record of the continental lithosphere is patchy and incomplete; no known rock is older than 4.02 Ga, and less than 5% of the rocks preserved are older than 3 Ga. In addition, there is no recognizable mantle lithosphere from before 3 Ga. We infer that there was lithosphere before 3 Ga and that ∼3 Ga marks the stabilization of blocks of continental lithosphere that have since survived. This was linked to plate tectonics emerging as the dominant tectonic regime in response to thermal cooling, the development of a more rigid lithosphere, and the recycling of water, which may in turn have facilitated plate tectonics. A number of models, using different approaches, suggest that at 3 Ga the volume of continental crust was ∼70% of its present-day volume and that this may be a minimum value. The continental crust before 3 Ga was on average more mafic than that generated subsequently, and this pre-3 Ga mafic new crust had fractionated Lu/Hf and Sm/Nd ratios as inferred for the sources of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodiorite and later granites. The more intermediate composition of new crust generated since 3 Ga is indicated by its higher Rb/Sr ratios. This change in composition was associated with an increase in crustal thickness, which resulted in more emergent crust available for weathering and erosion. This in turn led to an increase in the Sr isotope ratios of seawater and in the drawdown of CO2. Since 3 Ga, the preserved record of the continental crust is marked by global cycles of peaks and troughs of U-Pb crystallization ages, with the peaks of ages appearing to match periods of supercontinent assembly. There is increasing evidence that the peaks of ages represent enhanced preservation of magmatic rocks in periods leading up to and including continental collision in the assembly of supercontinents. These are times of increased crustal growth because more of the crust that is generated is retained within the crust. The rates of generation of continental crust and mantle lithosphere may have remained relatively constant at least since 3 Ga, yet the rates of destruction of continental crust have changed with time. Only relatively small volumes of rock are preserved from before 3 Ga, and so it remains difficult to establish which of these are representative of global processes and the extent to which the rock record before 3 Ga is distorted by particular biases.
ISSN: 0084-6597

hal-01622692
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01622692
DOI : 10.1146/annurev-earth-063016-020525

Éditeur(s) : Harper & brothers Harper & brothers ( [New York] : )
Résumé : A hurricane and tsunami, only two weeks apart, destroyed most ships and boats in Charlotte Amalie's harbor. On November 18, 1867, just a little over two weeks after St. Thomas had been hit by a deadly hurricane, two earthquakes, ten minutes apart, shook the Anegada Trough between St. Croix and St. Thomas. Within minutes a tsunami swept the southern shore of St. Thomas, with two waves 14 to 20 ft high crashing into Charlotte Amalie. Meanwhile, even higher waves struck Fredriksted, St. Croix, sending water as far as 298 ft. inland. At least 23 drowned. This illustration may show damage from the earthquake as well as the hurricane.
Article beneath illustration: The St. Thomas wrecks. Illustration from Harper's Weekly (1867 December 28), p. 829.
St. Thomas (V.I.)

Droits : All rights reserved by the source institution.
2003-269-6
2004-222-3

Éditeur(s) : Society for General Microbiology
Résumé : A novel piezotolerant, mesophilic, facultatively anaerobic, organotrophic, polarly flagellated bacterium (strain LT13a(T)) was isolated from a deep sediment layer in the Nankai Trough (Leg 190, Ocean Drilling Program) off the coast of Japan. This organism used a wide range of organic substrates as sole carbon and energy sources: pyruvate, glutamate, succinate, fumarate, lactate, citrate, peptone and tryptone. Oxygen, nitrate, fumarate, ferric iron and cystine were used as electron acceptors. Maximal growth rates were observed at a hydrostatic pressure of 10 MPa. Hydrostatic pressure for growth was in the range 0.1-50 MPa. Predominant cellular fatty acids were 16:1 omega7c, 15: 0 iso, 16: 0 and 13: 0 iso. The G + C content of the DNA was 44.9 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain LT13a(T) was shown to belong to the gamma-Proteobacteria, being closely related to Shewanella putrefaciens (98%), Shewanella oneidensis (97%) and Shewanella baltica (96 %). Levels of DNA homology between strain LT13a(T) and S. putrefaciens, S. oneidensis and S. baltica were < 20 %, indicating that strain LT13a(T) represents a novel species. Genetic evidence and phenotypic characteristics showed that isolate LT13a(T) constitutes a novel species of the genus Shewanella, Because of the deep origin of the strain, the name Shewanella profunda sp. nov. is proposed, with LT13a(T) (= DSM 15900(T)-JCM 12080(T)) as the type strain.
International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology (1466-5026) (Society for General Microbiology), 2004-11 , Vol. 54 , N. 6 , P. 1943-1949

Droits : 2004 International Union of Microbiological Societies
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2004/publication-590.pdf
DOI:10.1099/ijs.0.03007-0
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/590/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
In southeastern Taiwan a slice of forearc basement belonging to the Philippine Sea Plate upper-plate is suspected to subduct under the Luzon arc as a consequence of the transition from oceanic to incipient continental subduction. Effects on the morphology, deformation, geometry of structures and tectonic evolution of the orogenic wedge in the collision area are numerous. This study examines the impact of foreare lithosphere subduction on forearc basin and accretionary wedge deformation. A morpho-structural analysis of the geological features observed onland and offshore allows describing in detail the complex deformation suffered by the area. A combined approach by analogue modeling is applied to better understand the phenomenon. Comparison between nature and experimental results shows that subduction of a forearc basement slice induces intense shortening and concomitant deformation in the foreare domain. Such process involves deformation of the foreare basin previously developed in a setting of oceanic subduction. Sediments of the forearc basin are involved in the growth of a new thrust ridge backthrusted against the basement slope of the volcanic arc edifice. Sediments coming from the growing orogenic wedge are trapped in the trough developed between its backpart and the topographic high of the new rising ridge. A syn-collisional orogenic basin develops which structural evolution characterizes the progressive shortening of the forearc domain. Most of the deformation and tectonic events recorded offshore or onland in the complex area south of Taiwan can be explained using results of our specific modeling which well describe the tectonic processes associated with continental subduction under a volcanic are.
ISSN: 0040-1951

hal-00420080
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00420080
DOI : 10.1016/j.tecto.2007.11.016

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : During the Fanindien 2006 cruise of R/V 'Beautemps-Beaupre', high resolution multibeam bathymetry, sub-bottom profiling and sediment coring was carried out along the East African margin, offshore Tanzania and Mozambique (Indian Ocean). The newly acquired data reveal the presence of a giant deep-sea valley (the Tanzania channel) that is more than 10 km wide at 4000 m water depth, along the continental rise. The valley remains similar to 70 m deep and 7 km wide at 800 km from the Tanzania coast. Morphological comparison with worldwide submarine channels show that the Tanzania channel is one of the largest known submarine valleys. This discovery brings new light on development of submarine valleys that drain sediments originated from the East African Rift System (EARS) highlands (i.e. the Tanzania channel and its neighbor Zambezi channel located similar to 1000 km southward). Both of the systems have a morphology markedly different to the classical sinuous, V-shaped channels located at similar latitudes (e.g. the Zaire or Amazon channels). Their submarine drainage system consists of a downslope converging tributary canyons joining a central trunk channel in the continental rise. The presence of such giant deep-sea drainage systems is probably linked to a strong structural control on the sediment pathway, associated to a massive sediment transfer towards the Indian Ocean in relation with the tectonic activity of the East African Rift System (i.e. the uplift periods trough mid-Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene times) and its interplay with the East African equatorial climate changes.
Marine Geology (0025-3227) (Elsevier), 2008-12 , Vol. 255 , N. 3-4 , P. 179-185

Droits : 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00324/43491/42958.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.margeo.2008.09.002
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00324/43491/

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : During the Fanindien 2006 cruise of R/V 'Beautemps-Beaupre', high resolution multibeam bathymetry, sub-bottom profiling and sediment coring was carried out along the East African margin, offshore Tanzania and Mozambique (Indian Ocean). The newly acquired data reveal the presence of a giant deep-sea valley (the Tanzania channel) that is more than 10 km wide at 4000 m water depth, along the continental rise. The valley remains similar to 70 m deep and 7 km wide at 800 km from the Tanzania coast. Morphological comparison with worldwide submarine channels show that the Tanzania channel is one of the largest known submarine valleys. This discovery brings new light on development of submarine valleys that drain sediments originated from the East African Rift System (EARS) highlands (i.e. the Tanzania channel and its neighbor Zambezi channel located similar to 1000 km southward). Both of the systems have a morphology markedly different to the classical sinuous, V-shaped channels located at similar latitudes (e.g. the Zaire or Amazon channels). Their submarine drainage system consists of a downslope converging tributary canyons joining a central trunk channel in the continental rise. The presence of such giant deep-sea drainage systems is probably linked to a strong structural control on the sediment pathway, associated to a massive sediment transfer towards the Indian Ocean in relation with the tectonic activity of the East African Rift System (i.e. the uplift periods trough mid-Miocene and Plio-Pleistocene times) and its interplay with the East African equatorial climate changes. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Marine Geology (0025-3227) (Elsevier), 2008-12 , Vol. 255 , N. 3-4 , P. 179-185

Droits : 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2008/publication-6855.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.margeo.2008.09.002

Éditeur(s) : American Geophysical Union
Résumé : Magmatism associated with subducting plate edges or slab tears has been suggested in the southern Okinawa Trough. The cross back-arc volcanic trail, which consists of a cluster of about 70 seamounts, is located above a Ryukyu slab tear lying along the 123.3°E meridian. In November 2003, more than 3300 earthquakes recorded in this area by 15 ocean bottom seismometers and surrounding land stations during a period of 12 days were used to determine the three-dimensional Vp and Vs velocity structures and Vp/Vs ratios. A mantle inflow characterized by low Vp and Vs and high Vp/Vs passing through the slab tear is imaged. The fluid and/or melt component is rising obliquely from the slab tear in the directions of the cross back-arc volcanic trail, the northern slope of the southern Okinawa Trough and to north of Iriomote Island. The asthenospheric intake is also imaged by an inclined chip-like high Vp/Vs and low Vp and Vs body dipping northerly, which might be linked to the slab retreat. West of the slab tear, most of the earthquakes are located around low Vp and Vs and high Vp/Vs bodies, which suggests that the seismicity is related to magmatic and/or fluid activities. East of it, earthquakes are concentrated in an area characterized by high Vp and Vs velocities and low Vp/Vs, suggesting that the magma chamber is absent beneath the axial part of the trough and that normal faulting is the main factor controlling the seismicity.
Journal of Geophysical Research ( JGR ) - Solid earth (0148-0227) (American Geophysical Union), 2007-08 , Vol. 112 , N. B8 , P. NIL_13-NIL_32

Droits : 2007 AGU
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2007/publication-3032.pdf
DOI:10.1029/2006JB004703
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/3032/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Résumé : International audience
Detailed seafloor mapping in the area east of Taiwan revealed trench-parallel stretching and folding of the Ryukyu forearc and lateral motion of the accretionary wedge under oblique convergence. East of 122ø40'E, a steep accretionary wedge is elongated in an E-W direction. A major transcurrent right-lateral strike-slip fault accommodates the strain partitioning caused by an oblique convergence of 40 ø. A spectacular out-of-sequence thrust may be related to the subduction of a structural high lying in the axis of the N-S trending Gagua Ridge. This asperity is likely responsible for the uplift of the accretionary wedge and forearc basement and may have augmented strain partitioning by increasing the coupling between the two plates. West of 122ø40'E, the low-taper accretionary wedge is sheared in a direction subparallel to the convergence vector with respect to the Ryukyu Arc. The bayonet shape of the southern Ryukyu Arc slope partly results from the recent (re)opening of the southern Okinawa Trough at a rate of about 2 to 4 cm/yr. Right-lateral shearing of the sedimentary forearc with respect to the nonlinear Ryukyu backstop generates trench-parallel extension in the forearc sediment sequence at dilational jogs and trench-parallel folding at compressive jogs. The Hoping Basin lies above a diffuse trench/trench/fault (TTF) or TFF unstable triple junction moving toward the south along a N-S transform zone which accommodates the southward drift of the Ryukyu Arc with respect to Eurasia.
ISSN: 0278-7407

hal-01261555
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261555
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261555/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01261555/file/Lallemand_et_al-1999-Tectonics.pdf
DOI : 10.1029/1998TC900011

Éditeur(s) : Université de Bucarest - Université de Bretagne occidentale
Résumé : This study is focusing on the architecture and recent sedimentary evolution of the Danube channel, the youngest channel-levee system in the Danube deep-sea fan. The study was conducted as part of the BlaSON French-Romanian Project, and combined high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles and chirp profiles with multibeam bathymetry and piston cores. This data set was acquired in 1998 during a joint survey IFREMER-GeoEcoMar of the north-western Black Sea. Previous seismic and acoustic data were also used. The Danube deep-sea fan is a large passive-margin mud-rich fan. Like the other systems of this type (Amazon fan, Mississippi fan or Indus fan) the Danube fan consists of stacked channel-levee systems intercalated with mass-transport deposits. Seismic and sedimentary facies in the Danube fan are similar to those identified in most of the mud-rich systems. Nevertheless, the Danube fan is distinguished by a specific feature: its development in a freshwater environment. This is due to the peculiar water-level history of the Black Sea controlled by the link to the Mediterranean through the Strait of Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. This connexion was successively interrupted (during sea level lowstands) and re-established (when the sea level was rising above the Bosphorus). Temporary absence of marine water influx during lowstands together with large freshwater inputs from the Danube and other major rivers changed the Black Sea into a freshwater lake during times of fan activity. This peculiarity possibly favourised the development of hyperpycnal flow at the Danube mouth and the initiation of turbidity currents in the deep-sea fan. The Danube channel is directly connected to the large shelf-indenting Danube canyon (also known as Viteaz canyon). The Danube canyon is deeply incised into the shelf margin for 26 km landward of the shelfbreak. During lowstands this canyon acted as the most important path for sediment supply to the deep sea in this part of the continental margin. It consists of a main trough with steep flanks, and a meandering thalweg cut into the flat canyon floor, attesting for the development of the canyon by erosion in the entrenched axial thalweg. Sections with specific morphology, orientation and gradient identified along the canyon, are interpreted as phases of landward expansion of the canyon. Internal structure of the canyon shows several erosional surfaces, which indicate that the present morphology of the canyon is the result of its polyphasic evolution. Instability in the zone of the canyon is related to the important sediment supply at the Danube mouth, to the presence of the gas in the surficial sediment, and possibly under a structural control. The upper part of the Danube channel (between the Danube canyon and ~1400 m depth) consists in a single leveed-channel that has undergone significant overbank deposition, as attested by the well-developed levees. The levees are strongly asymmetrical, being higher and wider on the right-hand side looking downstream. This type of asymmetry is rather common in deep-sea fans, and is generally attributed to the Coriolis effect (Menard, 1955). The channel is slightly sinuous, partially filled and incised by an entrenched thalweg, connected to the axial thalweg of the Danube canyon. Detailed seismic investigation inside the channel trough documented several depositional phases within the channel fill, separated by erosional surfaces. These surfaces are associated with distinct terraces identified on the multibeam bathymetry, that can be followed downward along the main trough axis. The valley fill deposits (where not removed by the subsequent erosional event) show an axial HAR (High Amplitude Reflections) seismic facies with lateral lower amplitude continuous reflections consisting in a levee facies, as proved by sampling. This indicates that filling up was associated with flow within the channel, and not with interruption of fan activity. On the middle slope below 1400 m, this single channel bifurcates through repeated avulsions. As a result, several highly meandering channels developed. The onlap relationships between these channels indicate that only one channel was active at a time. Each phase of avulsion resulted in a depositional unit consisting in a basal unchannelized lobe defined as High Amplitude Reflection Packets (HARP, Flood et al., 1991) that underlies a channel-levee system. The deposition of HARPs was associated with the readjustment of the longitudinal profile of the channel after the breaching of a levee, which resulted in remobilization of upslope channel deposits and eroded levees. When this adjustment was complete, erosion ceased and levees began to develop above the HARPs (Pirmez et al., 1997). All the identified phases of avulsion followed the same pattern: (1) breaching of the lower and narrower left levee; (2) building of a unit of High Amplitude Reflector Packets (HARP) basinward of the bifurcation point by the unchannelized flow, while the former channel was abandoned; and (3) initiation of a new meandering leveed channel. The northward migration of the resulting units through repeated bifurcations is influenced by the asymmetry between levees (hence by the Coriolis effect), and confined between the high levees of the initial phase of the Danube channel (to the south) and the steep relief of the Dniepr fan (to the north). Structure of the fan valley fill indicate that the erosional surfaces inside the upper channel could be formed in response of successive avulsions, by the adjustment of the longitudinal profile of the channel following the breaching of a levee wall. Sediments removed by erosion formed the HARP lobes basinward of the avulsion point. When this adjustment was complete, a channel-levee system developed downward of the bifurcation, overlying the HARPs, but also upward of this point, as a confined channel-levee system inside the erosional trough of the fan valley. Fluvial incisions identified on the continental shelf, together with the coastline location during the last active period of the Danube channel, indicated that the paleo-Danube was directed towards the head of the Danube canyon. Paleo-Danube mouth was fairly close (ca. 10 km) to the Danube canyon, supplying sediment to the Danube channel. Furthermore, hyperpycnal flow probably prevailed in the freshwater environment that characterized the Black Sea during times of fan activity. These conditions would have enabled the development of a quasi-continuous river-canyon-deep-sea fan system, ensuring the effective transfer of the sediment between the coastal zone and the deep sea.
Ce travail est consacré à l'étude de l'architecture et de l'évolution sédimentaire récente de l'éventail profond du Danube, en particulier de son dernier système chenal-levée: le chenal du Danube. L'étude a été réalisée dans le cadre du projet de coopération franco-roumaine BlaSON, à partir des données sismiques, bathymétriques-acoustiques et sédimentologiques acquises en 1998 lors d'une campagne en mer Noire réalisée par IFREMER et GeoEcoMar. Des données sismiques et acoustiques antérieures ont été également utilisées. L'éventail profond du Danube s'enserre dans la catégorie des grands éventails vaseux. Comme les autres systèmes de ce genre (tel que les éventails de l'Amazone, du Mississippi ou de l'Indus) il est constitué d'une succession de systèmes chenaux-levées intercalés avec des dépôts de transport en masse. Le fonctionnement de l'éventail était conditionné par la baisse du niveau marin lors des périodes glaciaires. Ses faciès sismiques et sédimentaires s'apparentent aux faciès qui caractérisent la plupart des éventails de ce type. L'éventail du Danube constitue néanmoins un cas particulier parmi les autres systèmes étudiés, du fait de son fonctionnement dans un bassin lacustre. Ceci est dû à la situation spécifique de la mer Noire dont la connexion avec la Méditerranée, par le détroit de Bosphore et la mer de Marmara, a été successivement interrompue (au cours de périodes de bas niveau) et reprise (quand le niveau marin remontait en dépassant le seuil du Bosphore). L'absence de l'apport d'eau salée pendant les périodes glaciaires, associée avec l'augmentation de l'apport fluvial, ont déterminé l'installation d'un milieu d'eau douce dans la mer Noire à chaque fois que la baisse du niveau permettait la reprise du fonctionnement de l'éventail profond. Cette situation particulière aurait favorisé la formation des courants hyperpycnaux à l'embouchure d'un fleuve du débit du Danube qui déversait ses eaux turbides dans un bassin lacustre, et aurait donc influencé l'apparition de courants de turbidité dans l'éventail profond. Le chenal du Danube s'est développé sur la pente continentale en prolongation du canyon du Danube (ou Viteaz) auquel il est directement connecté. Le canyon est incisé de manière significative (26 km) dans la plate-forme continentale. Au cours de bas-niveaux marins il constituait la principale voie de transfert des sédiments terrigènes vers le bassin profond dans cette partie de la marge. Le canyon est constitué par une entaille avec des flancs abrupts et un talweg axial incisé, qui montre l'importance du processus d'érosion du fond pour le développement du canyon. Les segments qui ont été identifiés le long du canyon, avec des morphologies, des orientations et des pentes spécifiques, sont interprétés comme des phases d'avancement du canyon vers la côte. Plusieurs incisions sont visibles dans la structure interne du canyon et témoignent que la morphologie actuelle du canyon est le résultat de son évolution polyphasée. L'instabilité de la zone du canyon est en relation avec les apports sédimentaires importants à l'embouchure du Danube, avec la présence du gaz dans les sédiments superficiels, et possiblement sous un contrôle structural. Sur la pente supérieure (entre le canyon du Danube et environ 1400 m de profondeur) le chenal du Danube présente des levées bien développées et fortement asymétriques, avec la levée droite plus haute et plus large que la levée gauche. Ce type d'asymétrie, fréquemment décrit dans les éventails profonds est généralement attribué à l'effet Coriolis (Menard, 1955). Le chenal est légèrement sinueux, partiellement comblé et incisé par un talweg axial qui représente la continuation sur la pente du talweg incisé dans le canyon du Danube. L'analyse sismique détaillée du remplissage de la vallée montre plusieurs phases de dépôt, séparées par des discontinuités érosives. Ces surfaces d'érosion correspondent à des terrasses emboîtées, relativement parallèles le long de la vallée, visibles dans la bathymétrie. Les dépôts qui constituent le remplissage du chenal présentent un faciès sismique de type HAR (High Amplitude Reflections) dans l'axe du chenal, partiellement (ou parfois totalement) enlevé par les phases d'érosion subséquentes, qui continue latéralement avec des réflexions litées correspondant à un faciès sédimentaire de levée. Le remplissage de la vallée a été donc associé avec des écoulements dans le chenal, et non pas avec l'interruption de son fonctionnement. Sur la pente inférieure, le chenal unique bifurque plusieurs fois par avulsion et forme de nouveaux systèmes chenaux-levées méandriformes. Ces systèmes se succèdent verticalement en onlap, ce qui montre qu'un seul chenal a été actif à la fois. Chaque phase d'avulsion a eu comme résultat la mise en place d'une unité constituée par un lobe défini comme "High Amplitude Reflection Packets" (HARP, Flood et al., 1991) à la base, et un système chenal-levée au sommet. Le dépôt d'un lobe HARP est associé avec de l'érosion dans le chenal en amont du point d'avulsion pour l'ajustement de son profil après la rupture de la levée. Quand le chenal a retrouvé son profil d'équilibre, l'érosion a cessé et des levées ont commencé à se développer au-dessus des HARPs (Pirmez et al., 1997). Toutes les phases d'avulsion se sont développées d'après le même modèle: (1) la rupture de la levée gauche, plus étroite; (2) le dépôt d'un lobe HARP par les écoulements non-chenalisés en aval du point d'avulsion, et l'abandon de l'ancien chenal; (3) l'initiation d'un nouveau système chenal-levée. La migration systématique du chenal vers le nord est influencée par l'assymétrie des levées (donc par la force de Coriolis), et confinée entre les grandes levées de la phase initiale du chenal du Danube, au sud, et le relief abrupt de l'éventail du Dniepr au nord. La structure sédimentaire du chenal du Danube indique que les surfaces érosives à l'intérieur du remplissage du chenal se seraient formées en réponse aux avulsions, du fait de l'ajustement du profil du chenal après la rupture d'une levée. Les sédiments du chenal érodés au cours de ce processus ont formé les lobes HARP. Quand le chenal a retrouvé son profil d'équilibre, un système chenal-levée s'est développé en aval du point d'avulsion au dessus du lobe HARP, mais aussi en amont de ce point, où il se trouve confiné dans la vallée érosive. Les incisions fluviatiles identifiés sur la plate-forme continentale et la position de la ligne de côte pendant la dernière période d'activité du chenal du Danube montrent que le paléo-Danube se dirigeait directement vers la tête du canyon du Danube. Son embouchure était située à proximité du canyon, qui alimentait le chenal du Danube. Cependant, les courants hyperpycnaux devaient prévaloir dans le milieu de salinité réduite qui caractérisait la mer Noire lors des périodes actives de l'éventail. Ces conditions auraient favorisé la mise en place d'un système quasi-continu fleuve-canyon-éventail profond, qui contrôlait le transfert des sédiments entre la côte et le bassin profond.

Droits : info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2002/these-1206.pdf
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/1206/

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Taylor & Francis
Résumé : The Latest Cretaceous/Paleocene paleokarsts from Bas-Languedoc (South of France) are characterized by : 1) exokarstic paleosurfaces (sink holes, pinnacles, canyons) which are mostly superimposed onto the Late Jurassic limestones and partly filled up with breccias and sandy clays containing Paleocene planktonic foraminifera; 2) endokarstic cavities filled up by sandy pelites and laminated mudstones with similar micropaleontological assemblage. All these cavities constitute three cut-and-filled paleokarstic systems. A general model of formation for this polyphase system is proposed. These paleosurfaces are generated by a Latest Cretaceous tectonic phase and Paleocene movements associated with eustatic rises inducing rapid floodings. During Upper Danian-Lower Selandian times three successive base levels drops, whose cumulated duration could be as long as 3 Ma, have induced several hundred metres of incisions within the exposed Jurassic carbonate series. A paleogeographic reconstruction shows three main marine gulfs which extend towards NE the EW Pyrenean thrust belt ("Pyrenean Paleocene Trough", PPT) located on the axis of the future Pyrenees. The similarity of the facies and micropaleontological content in the two domains suggests connexions between the marine Paleocene deposits of Bas-Languedoc and the PPT. It could thus explain the succession of the same tectono-eustatic events. We propose, as an hypothesis, that the rapid sea-level changes, as recorded by the imbricated karstic paleomorphologies, could be induced by the closing and the opening of a strait in the Eastern part of the PPT acting as a sill. This would be controlled by tectonic movements along the active orogenic axis of the Pyrenean Range and eustatic variations of the Paleocene World Ocean. The karstic systems developed during these low-stand episodes may have been later reactivated after the Early Selandian and more specifically during the Messinian desiccation event. This late evolution may have generated deep flooded karsts, now situated below the present sea level. Such karsts, partly inherited from Paleocene, could be important aquifers of economic interest.
ISSN: 0985-3111

hal-00407601
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00407601
DOI : 10.3166/ga.20.301-326

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union
Résumé : International audience
The majority of the largest subduction megathrust earthquakes share the common characteristic of rupturing more than one asperity along strike of the margin. Understanding the factors that control coseismic failure of multiple asperities, and thus maximum magnitude, is central for seismic hazard assessment. To investigate the role of asperities size and spacing on maximum magnitude, seismicity rate, and percentage of synchronized ruptures, we use analog models simulating along-strike rupture behavior of megathrust earthquakes. We found negative correlations between the barrier-to-asperity length ratio Db/Da and maximum magnitude and seismicity rate. Db/Da also controls the process of asperities synchronization along the megathrust. A permanent barrier behavior is observed for Db/Da > 0.5. Comparing our experimental results to the Nankai Trough historical seismicity, we propose that the distribution of megathrust frictional heterogeneities likely explains the diversity of earthquakes which occurred there.
ISSN: 0094-8276

hal-01685546
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01685546
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01685546/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01685546/file/Corbi_et_al-2017-Geophysical_Research_Letters.pdf
DOI : 10.1002/2017GL074182

Résumé : Le pâturage, principal mode d’alimentation en zone tropicale, est souvent dévalorisé car il est associé à des performances animales jugées insuffisantes, et peut avoir des effets néfastes sur l’environnement. Même si l’alimentation à l’auge permet de meilleures productions, ce mode de conduite présente également des inconvénients, en termes d’investissements, de rentabilité économique, d’impact des rejets sur l’environnement et de qualité des produits. Une intensification de la conduite au pâturage semble donc une voie d’avenir, mais nécessite une meilleure connaissance de ce mode de conduite et de ses conséquences sur l’alimentation et les performances des animaux. Il apparait également nécessaire de comparer l’élevage au pâturage et à l’auge sur des critères homogènes, en dissociant les composantes de ces modes de conduite.L’objectif de la thèse est d’évaluer et de comparer la conduite au pâturage et la conduite hors sol, en tenant compte également de la distribution ou non de concentré, sur l’alimentation, la croissance, les caractéristiques d’abattage et la consommation d’eau. Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié au cours d’une expérimentation, les effets de ces deux modes de conduite sur la croissance, les caractéristiques d’abattage et de carcasse de taurillons Créoles abattus à deux âges (précoce vs tardif). Les taurillons à l’auge avaient une croissance plus rapide, des poids de carcasse plus élevés, ainsi que des carcasses plus grasses. Nous avons observé qu’abattre plus tardivement au pâturage (17 et 21 mois vs 14 et 17 mois à l’auge), permettait d’atteindre des poids finaux similaires à ceux obtenus à l’auge et des carcasses de meilleure qualité, plus riche en muscle. Nous avons expliqué la majorité de nos résultats par les effets combinés des modes de conduite et de l’alimentation et avons voulu étudier leurs effets respectifs. Dans un second temps, l’étude des effets du mode de conduite a été faite dans un premier temps, par le biais d’une méta-analyse. Les performances des animaux à l’auge étaient meilleures qu’au pâturage, mais ces effets dépendaient de la stratégie de complémentation. De cette méta-analyse est également apparu le manque d’études auge vs pâturage sur l’alimentation et à ration égale. Afin d’étudier les effets respectifs du mode de conduite et de la stratégie de complémentation, un dispositif analytique avec des taurillons élevés à l’auge et au pâturage complémentés ou non avec du concentré a été mis en place. Dans un premier temps, une étude méthodologique menée grâce à ce dispositif nous a permis d’identifier que la SPIR permettait la meilleure estimation de la dMO, l’OMI et la MODI au pâturage. Les résultats de l’étude analytique ont montré que les animaux au pâturage utilisaient mieux leur alimentation pour leur croît que ceux à l’auge et la stratégie de complémentation influençait davantage ces variables que le mode de conduite. Avec une stratégie de complémentation appropriée, les animaux au pâturage peuvent atteindre des performances similaires à celles obtenues à l’auge.
Grazing, main way of feeding ruminants in the tropics, is often undervalued because it is associated with animal performance deemed insufficient, and may have adverse effects on the environment. Even if stall feeding allows better production, this way of feeding has drawbacks in terms of investment, profitability, impact of emissions on the environment and product quality. Intensification of grazing seems a way forward, but requires a better understanding of this way of feeding and its impact on feeding and animal performance. It also appears necessary to compare grazing and stalls feeding on homogeneous criteria, separating the components of these modes of management.The aim of the thesis is to evaluate and compare stalls and pasture feeding environment, taking into account also the distribution or not of concentrate on feeding, growth, slaughter characteristics and water consumption. At first , we studied in an experiment , the effects of these two feeding systems on growth, slaughter and carcass characteristics of Creoles bulls slaughtered at two ages (early vs. late ). Bulls fed in trough grew faster, had greater carcass weight and fatter carcasses. We observed that a later slaughter of grazing animals (17 and 21 months vs. 14 and 17 months in stalls), allowed to reach final weights similar to those obtained in stalls and carcasses richer in muscle. We explained most of our results by the combined effects of feeding environment and complementation strategy and wanted to study their effects. In a second step, the study of the effects of feeding environment was made in first instance, through a meta-analysis. Stalls fed animals had greater performances than pasture fed ones, but these effects depended on complementation strategy. This meta-analysis also highlighted the lack of knowledge on intake and digestibility at pasture, which is a limitation on attempts to compare with measurements carried out in trough-fed animals. To investigate the relative effects of feeding environment and complementation strategy, we conceived an analytical trial with Creole bulls reared in stalls and at pasture, supplemented or not with concentrate. First of all, this analytical trial was the support of a methodological study, which identified that the NIRS method allows the best estimate of the OMD, OMI and DOMI at pasture. The analytical trial showed that grazing animals had better feed efficiency feed for their growth than stall fed ones and complementation strategy influenced more these variables than feeding environment. With an appropriate strategy for complementation, grazing animals can achieve similar performance to those obtained at the trough.

http://www.theses.fr/2013AGUY0675/document

Éditeur(s) : Elsevier
Résumé : The Danube Canyon is a large shelf-indenting canyon that has developed seaward of the late Pleistocene paleo-Danube valley. Mechanisms of canyon evolution and factors that controlled it are revealed by analyzing the morphology and the sedimentary structure of the canyon, as well as the main features of the continental margin around the canyon. This is based on investigation by swath bathymetry in the canyon area combined with different types of seismic data. The canyon is a major erosional trough with a flat bottom cut by an entrenched axial thalweg. The thalweg path varies from highly meandering to fairly straight in relation to the local gradient. Segments of the canyon are characterized by specific morphology, orientation and gradient along the axial thalweg. We interpret these segments in terms of canyon maturity. The sedimentary structure of the canyon documents an older phase of erosion followed by partial infilling, and thus attests for repeated cycles of canyon development. Canyon morphology is interpreted as a result of erosive sediment flows along the entrenched axial thalweg that caused downcutting into the canyon bottom and instability of the canyon walls, and hence enlargement of the canyon and expansion by headward erosion. During the last lowstand level of the Black Sea the canyon was located in an area of high sediment supply close to the paleo-Danube River mouths. This is indicated by buried fluvial channels on the shelf and by a wave-cut terrace associated with a water level situated about - 90 m below the present level. We infer that erosive flows in the canyon resulted from hyperpycnal currents at the river mouths, probably favored by the low salinity environment that characterized the Black Sea during lowstand times. Other mechanisms could have contributed to trigger sediment failure along the canyon, such as instability related to the presence of shallow gas, or the effect of a deep fault.
Marine Geology (0025-3227) (Elsevier), 2004-05 , Vol. 206 , N. 1-4 , P. 249-265

Droits : 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/2004/publication-476.pdf
DOI:10.1016/j.margeo.2004.03.003
http://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/476/