Seismic Geomorphology: Subsurface Analyses, Data Integration and Palaeoenvironment Reconstructions

The spatial extent and quality of seismic and subsurface datasets have substantially improved in recent years due to traditional hydrocarbon activities and the emergence of green technologies like offshore wind. This Special Publication investigates the opportunities for (re)investigating past environments using seismic geomorphology and its integration with other datasets.
Glacial seismic geomorphology and Plio-Pleistocene ice sheet history offshore NW Europe Available to Purchase
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Published:March 15, 2024
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CiteCitation
Andrew M. W. Newton, Aleksandr Montelli, Christine L. Batchelor, Benjamin Bellwald, Rachel Harding, Mads Huuse, Julian A. Dowdeswell, Dag Ottesen, Ståle E. Johansen, Sverre Planke, 2024. "Glacial seismic geomorphology and Plio-Pleistocene ice sheet history offshore NW Europe", Seismic Geomorphology: Subsurface Analyses, Data Integration and Palaeoenvironment Reconstructions, A. M. W. Newton, K. J. Andresen, K. J. Blacker, R. Harding, E. Lebas
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Abstract
Plio-Pleistocene records of ice-rafted detritus suggest NW European ice sheets regularly reached coastlines. However, these records provide limited insight on the frequency, extent and dynamics of ice sheets delivering the detritus. Three-dimensional reflection seismic data of the NW European glaciated margin have previously documented buried landforms that inform us on these uncertainties. This paper reviews and combines these existing records with new seismic geomorphological observations to catalogue landform occurrence along the European glaciated margin and considers how they relate to ice sheet history. The compilation shows Early Pleistocene ice sheets regularly advanced across the continental shelves. Early Pleistocene sea-level reconstructions demonstrate lower magnitude fluctuations compared to the Middle–Late Pleistocene, and more extensive/frequent Early Pleistocene glaciation provides a possible mismatch with sea-level reconstructions. This evidence is discussed with global records of glaciation to consider possible impacts on our wider understanding of Plio-Pleistocene climate changes, in particular how well Early Pleistocene sea-level records capture ice sheet volume changes. Resolving such issues relies on how well landforms are dated, whether they can be correlated with other proxy datasets, and how accurately these proxies reconstruct the magnitudes of past climatic changes. Many questions about Pleistocene glaciation in Europe and elsewhere remain.
- bathymetry
- bottom features
- Cenozoic
- channels
- climate change
- continental shelf
- crevasses
- deformation
- detritus
- erosion
- eskers
- Europe
- fluvial features
- geophysical methods
- glacial features
- glacial geology
- glaciated terrains
- glaciation
- ice rafting
- ice sheets
- ice-marginal features
- icebergs
- lineation
- lower Pleistocene
- meltwater
- moraines
- Neogene
- ocean floors
- offshore
- paleoclimatology
- Pleistocene
- Pliocene
- Quaternary
- reconstruction
- reflection methods
- scour
- sea-level changes
- seismic methods
- structural analysis
- subglacial environment
- Tertiary
- Western Europe
- proglacial features
- subglacial features