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Table of Contents


Vol. 9 - 2010

Vol. 8 - 2009

Vol. 7 - 2008
SP 1 - 2008

Vol. 6 - 2007
Vol. 5 - 2006
Vol. 4 - 2005
Vol. 3 - 2004
Vol. 2 - 2003
Vol. 1 - 2001-2002

Notes for Authors
(PDF - 80 kb)



GeoActa Special Publication 1 2008


Acquisto online

GeoActa
an international Journal of Earth Sciences


Giuseppe Verdicchio1-2, Fabio Trincardi1
1Istituto di Scienze Marine (ISMAR), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Gobetti 101, 40129 Bologna, Italy
2Edison SpA, Foro Buonaparte 31, 20121 Milan, Italy

Sequence stratigraphy of Late Quaternary slope deposits in the South Adriatic



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Abstract

We test a sequence stratigraphic approach on the Late Quaternary slope system of the SW-Adriatic Margin, where mass-transport processes and bottom currents, associated with a relatively-abundant fine-grained sediment supply, contribute to the recent/modern evolution of the margin. The interplay of distinct transport processes leads to the formation of relatively thick mud deposits that are widespread with a patchy distribution along the slope. These deposits are pervaded by numerous erosional discontinuities, commonly having a limited lateral extent.
The SW-Adriatic was affected, at least during the last half million of years, by high-frequency sea-level oscillations that jointly with syn-sedimentary tectonic deformation produced a stack of 4 regressive sequences recording cycles of sea level change. Along the margin the shelf edge is breached by large slide scars and by the deeply incised Bari Canyon. Sediment failures impacted both the open slope and the steep Bari Canyon walls, and the resultant mass-transport deposits are widespread from the shelf edge to the slope base. These deposits display distinctive acoustically-transparent seismic facies and, where they occur on the seafloor, their morphology indicates peculiar sediment rheology and distinctive mass transport processes, ranging from block slide to turbidity current. In addition, two main bottom-flowing water masses of thermohaline origin impact the SW-Adriatic slope today: the steady-state Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW), which forms through evaporation in the Eastern Mediterranean and enters the Adriatic along a counter-clockwise path in a depth range of 200-600m, and the seasonally modulated North Adriatic Dense Water (NAdDW), forming through winter cooling on the north Adriatic shelf and cascading obliquely across the slope.
We use a chronostratigraphic chart (or Wheeler diagram) to analyze three distinct slope environments along the SW-Adriatic Margin: 1) bottom-current dominated, 2) mass-wasting dominated and 3) the Bari Canyon.