Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sedimentary processes and carbonate mounds in the Belgica Mound province, Porcupine Seabight, NE Atlantic

  • Chapter
Cold-Water Corals and Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Erlangen Earth Conference Series ((ERLANGEN))

Abstract

Carbonate mounds (up to 200 m high) formed from the accumulated remains of cold-water corals (principally Lophelia pertusa and Madrepora oculata), associated calcareous fauna and interstitial sediment are present at 500–1000 m water depths west of Ireland. Seabed mapping datasets (side-scan sonar, multibeam echosounder, sub-bottom profiler and underwater video imagery) are presented here from the Belgica Mound province on the eastern Porcupine Seabight margin. The data, integrated within a Geographic Information System (GIS), provide an environmental context to mound development. Analysis of this multidisciplinary dataset and resultant facies map highlight differing sedimentary processes (e.g., sediment wave, barchan dune, gravel lag and sand ribbon development) operating under strong northward flowing bottom currents with sandy sediment supply where the influence of mound topography on benthic currents and sediment pathways is evident. Correspondingly, benthic current pathways and associated sediment transport also exert an influence on carbonate mound surface morphology and growth. Giant mounds show a transition from sediment waves that, with increasing coral colonisation, give way to banks of coral towards the mound summits. Smaller mound features (Moira Mounds) show sand entrapment as an important mound-forming process.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 309.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Belderson RH, Johnson MA, Kenyon NH (1982) Bedforms. In: Stride AH (ed) Offshore Tidal Sands. Processes and Deposits. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Bett BJ, Billett DSM, Masson DG, Tyler PA (2000) RRS Discovery Cruise 248, 07 Jul–10 Aug 2000. A multidisciplinary study of the environment and ecology of deep-water coral ecosystems and associated seabed facies and features (the Darwin Mounds, Porcupine Bank and Porcupine Seabight). Southampton Oceanogr Cruise Rep 36

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyer A, Schenke HW, Klenke M, Niederjasper N (2003) High resolution bathymetry of the eastern slope of the Porcupine Seabight. Mar Geol 198: 27–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Haas H, Huvenne V, Wheeler A, Unnithan V and shipboard scientific crew (2002) M2002 Cruise report (R.V. Pelagia Cruise 64PE197): A TOBI side scan sonar survey of cold-water coral carbonate mounds in the Rockall Trough and Porcupine Sea Bight-Texel-Southampton-Galway, 21 June–14 July 2002. R Netherl Sea Res (NIOZ), Texel, The Netherlands, 2002

    Google Scholar 

  • De Mol B (2002) Development of coral banks in Porcupine Seabight (SW Ireland). A multidisciplinary approach. PhD thesis, Fac Sci, Dept Geol Soil Sci, Univ Ghent, 363 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • De Mol B, Henriet JP, Canals M (2005) Development of coral banks in Porcupine Seabight: do they have Mediterranean ancestors? In: Freiwald A, Roberts JM (eds) Cold-water Corals and Ecosystems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 515–533

    Google Scholar 

  • De Mol B, Van Rensbergen P, Pillen S, Van Rooij D, McDonnell A, Ivanov M, Swennen R, Henriet JP (2002) Larger deep-water coral banks in the Porcupine Basin, southwest of Ireland. Mar Geol 188: 193–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Foubert A, Beck T, Wheeler AJ, Opderbecke J, Grehan A, Klages M, Thiede J, Henriet JP and the Polarstern ARK-XIX/3a shipboard party (2005) New view of the Belgica Mounds, Porcupine Seabight, NE Atlantic: preliminary results from the Polarstern ARK-XIX/ 3a ROV cruise. In: Freiwald A, Roberts JM (eds) Cold-water Corals and Ecosystems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 403–415

    Google Scholar 

  • Frederiksen R, Jensen A, Westerberg H (1992) The distribution of the scleractinian coral Lophelia pertusa around the Faroe Islands and the relation to internal tidal mixing. Sarsia 77: 157–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Freiwald A (1998) Geobiology of Lophelia pertusa (Scleractinia) reefs in the North Atlantic. Habilitation thesis, Univ Bremen, 116 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Freiwald A (2002) Reef-forming cold-water corals. In: Wefer G, Billett D, Hebbeln D, Jørgensen BB, Schlüter M, Van Weering T (eds) Ocean Margin Systems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 365–385

    Google Scholar 

  • Freiwald A, Henrich R, Pätzold J (1997) Anatomy of a deep-water coral reef mound from Stjernsund, west Finnmark, north Norway. SEPM Spec Publ 56: 142–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Freiwald A, Hühnerbach V, Lindberg B, Wilson JB, Campbell J (2002) The Sula Ridge Complex, Norwegian Shelf. Facies 47: 179–200

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe JA, Humphery JD (1995) Photographic evidence for slope-current activity, Hebrides Slope, NE Atlantic Ocean. Scot J Geol 30: 107–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Huvenne VAI (2003) Spatial geophysical analysis of the Magellan carbonate build-ups and the interaction with sedimentary processes: key to a genetic interpretation? PhD thesis, Fac Sci, Dept Geol Soil Sci, Univ Ghent

    Google Scholar 

  • Huvenne VAI, Beyer A, de Haas H, DeKindt K, Henriet JP, Kozachenko M, Olu-Le Roy K, Wheeler A. (2005) The seabed appearance of coral bank provinces in the Porcupine Seabight, NE Atlantic: results from side-scan sonar and ROV seabed mapping. In: Freiwald A, Roberts JM (eds) Cold-water Corals and Ecosystems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 535–569

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenyon NH, Akhmetzhanov AM, Wheeler AJ, van Weering TCE, de Haas H, Ivanov MK (2003) Giant carbonate mud mounds in the southern Rockall Trough. Mar Geol 195: 5–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kozachenko M, Wheeler A, Beyer A, Blamart D, Masson D, Olu-Le Roy K (2002) A four dimensional prospective of the sedimentary processes and their interactions with Ireland’s deep-water coral carbonate mound ecosystems: Belgica carbonate mound province, Eastern Porcupine Seabight, NE Atlantic. Geophys Res Abstr 4, Abstr EGS02-A-02529, 27th Gen Assem Europ Geophys Soc, Nice, 21–26 April 2002

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozachenko M, Wheeler AJ, Beyer A, Blamart D, Masson D, Olu-Le Roy K (2003a) Ireland’s deep-water coral carbonate mounds: multidisciplinary research results. Abstr, EGS-AGU-EUG Joint Assem, Nice, France, April 2003

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozachenko M, Wheeler A, Beyer A, Huvenne VAI, Masson D, Olu-Le Roy K (2003b) Sedimentary processes and carbonate mound morphology: the Belgica Mounds, Porcupine Seabight. Erlanger Geol Abh Sonderbd 4: 53–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Bas T, Hühnerbach V (1999) P.R.I.S.M. Processing of remotely-sensed imagery for seafloor mapping operators manual version 3.1. Southampton Oceanogr Cent, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale P, Speiss FN (1977) Abyssal bedforms explored with a deeply-towed instrument package. Mar Geol 23: 57–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masson DG, Bett BJ, Billett DSM, Jacobs CL, Wheeler AJ, Wynn RB (2003) The origin of deep-water, coral-topped mounds in the northern Rockall Trough, Northeast Atlantic. Mar Geol 194: 159–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikkelsen N, Erlenkeuser H, Killingley JS, Berger WH (1982) Norwegian corals: radiocarbon and stable isotopes in Lophelia pertusa. Boreas 11: 163–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortensen PB, Rapp HT (1998) Oxygen and carbon isotope ratios related to growth line patterns in skeletons of Lophelia pertusa (L.) (Anthozoa, Scleractinia): implications for determination of linear extension rates. Sarsia 83: 433–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Olu-Le Roy K, Caprais JC, Crassous P, Dejonghe E, Eardley D, Freiwald A, Galeron J, Grehan A, Henriet JP, Huvenne V, Lorance P, Noel P, Opderbecke J, Pitout C, Sibuet M, Unnithan V, Vacelet J, Van Weering T, Wheeler A, Zibrowius H (2002) CARACOLE Cruise Report. 30/07/2001 (Cobh) — 15/08/2001 (Foynes) N/O L’Atalante and ROV VICTOR. 1 and 2, Unpubl Rep, IFREMER, Brest

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers AD (1999) The biology of Lophelia pertusa (Linnaeus 1758) and other deep-water reef-forming corals and impacts from human activities. Int Rev Hydrobiol 84: 15–406

    Google Scholar 

  • Southard JB, Boguchwal LA (1990) Bed configurations in steady state unidirectional water flows. Part 2. Synthesis of flume data. J Sediment Petrol 60: 658–679

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rooij D, Kozachenko M, Blamart D, Lekens W, Wheeler A, Henriet JP (2000) The acoustic and sedimentological face of the sediments surrounding the Belgica mound province. EOS 81(48): F638

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rooij D, De Mol B, Huvenne V, Ivanov M, Henriet JP (2003a) Seismic evidence of current-controlled sedimentation in the Belgica mound province, upper Porcupine slope, southwest of Ireland. Mar Geol 195: 31–53

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rooij D, Raes M, Tseu G, Henriet JP (2003b) RV Belgica 03/13 cruise report, 18–28 May 2003, Porcupine Seabight. Unpubl Rep, Univ Ghent

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rooij D, Blamart D, Wheeler A, Kozachenko M, Richter T, Henriet JP (submitted) Quaternary drift sediment dynamics in the Belgica mound province, Porcupine Seabight: a multidisciplinary approach. Int J Earth Sci

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Weering TCE, de Haas H, de Stigter HC, Lykke-Andersen H, Kouvaev I (2003) Structure and development of giant carbonate mounds at the SW and SE Rockall Trough margins, NE Atlantic Ocean. Mar Geol 198: 67–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler AJ, Bett BJ, Billett DSM, Masson DG and Scientific Party, Officers and Crew of Discovery 248 (2000) Very high resolution side-scan mapping of deep-water coral mounds: surface morphology and processes affecting growth. EOS 81(48): F638

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler AJ, Beck T, Thiede J, Klages M, Grehan A, Monteys FX, Polarstern ARK XIX/3a Shipboard Party (2005) Deep-water coral mounds on the Porcupine Bank, Irish Margin: preliminary results from the Polarstern ARK-XIX/3a ROV cruise. In: Freiwald A, Roberts JM (eds) Cold-water Corals and Ecosystems. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 393–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler AJ, Beyer A, Freiwald A, de Haas H, Huvenne VAI, Kozachenko M, Olu-Le Roy K (submitted) Morphology and environment of deep-water coral mounds on the NW European margin. Int J Earth Sci

    Google Scholar 

  • White M (2001) Hydrography and physical dynamics at the NE Atlantic margin that influence the deep-water cold coral reef ecosystem. Dept Oceanogr, NUI Galway, Ireland, 31 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • White M (submitted) The hydrographic setting for the carbonate mounds of the Porcupine Bank and Sea Bight. Int J Earth Sci

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JB (1979a) The distribution of the coral Lophelia pertusa (L.) [L. prolifera (Pallas)] in the North East Atlantic. J Mar Biol Ass UK 59: 149–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JB (1979b) ‘Patch’ development of the deep-water coral Lophelia pertusa (L.) on Rockall Bank. J Mar Biol Ass UK 59: 165–177

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ireland

    Andrew J. Wheeler

  2. Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Ireland

    Maxim Kozachenko

  3. Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Columbusstr., D-27568, Bremerhaven, Germany

    Andreas Beyer, Michael Klages & Jörn Thiede

  4. Renard Centre of Marine Geology, Gent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000, Gent, Belgium

    Anneleen Foubert & Veerle A. I. Huvenne

  5. Southampton Oceanography Centre, Empress Dock, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK

    Veerle A. I. Huvenne & Douglas G. Masson

  6. Centre de Brest, IFREMER, BP 70, F-29280, Plouzané, France

    Karine Olu-Le Roy

Authors
  1. Andrew J. Wheeler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maxim Kozachenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andreas Beyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anneleen Foubert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Veerle A. I. Huvenne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Michael Klages
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Douglas G. Masson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Karine Olu-Le Roy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jörn Thiede
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Paleontology, Erlangen University, Loewenichstr. 28, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany

    André Freiwald

  2. Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA, UK

    J. Murray Roberts

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wheeler, A.J. et al. (2005). Sedimentary processes and carbonate mounds in the Belgica Mound province, Porcupine Seabight, NE Atlantic. In: Freiwald, A., Roberts, J.M. (eds) Cold-Water Corals and Ecosystems. Erlangen Earth Conference Series. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27673-4_28

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation