The Balearic Promontory geomorphology (western Mediterranean): morphostructure and active processes |
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| Institution: | 1. QU4TRE, environmental consulting, Carritxaret 18.6, Es Migjorn Gran E07749, Minorca, Spain;2. Department of Geography, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera de Valldemossa, km 7.5, E07122 Palma, Majorca, Spain;3. Department of Earth and Ocean Dynamics, RISKNAT Group, Geomodels, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès, s/n, E08028 Barcelona, Spain;4. Department of Biology, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera de Valldemossa, km 7.5, E07122 Palma, Majorca, Spain;1. Departamento de Biología Animal, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain;2. Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 29640 Fuengirola, Málaga, Spain;3. Centro Oceanográfico de Cádiz, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Puerto Pesquero, Muelle de Levante s/n, 11006 Cádiz, Spain;4. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad de Cádiz, Facultades de Ciencias y Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11519 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain;5. Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Sevilla, Facultad de Biología, Avda. Reina Mercedes 6, 41012 Sevilla, Spain;6. Departamento de Biología, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain |
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| Abstract: | In this paper, a detailed study of the submarine geomorphology surrounding the Balearic Promontory (western Mediterranean), a northeast prolongation of the Neogene Betic Range in southern Spain, is presented from a series of high-resolution tools including swath bathymetry and seismic reflection profiling. The study identifies the main features of the continental shelf, slope and basins surrounding the Balearic Islands. We show a variety of seafloor relief that owes its origin to several geologic processes, which ultimately control the transport of sediment from the shallower areas to the deep basin. The most important processes are erosion of the shelf and upper slope (terraces associated with different Quaternary sea-level stands and canyons), transport and sediment deposition in the lower slope and base-of-slope by turbidity currents, volcanism and instability processes (landslides scarps and debris lobes). The swath data show that tectonics plays an important role in shaping the submarine slopes of Eivissa and Formentera, the two southernmost islands, as well as its interplay with sedimentary processes, especially mass wasting. Finally, several areas show evidence of pockmarks, which indicate that fluid migration take place in the sediments, probably conditioning several other processes such as mass wasting. |
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