scholarly journals Side-Scan Sonar as a Tool for Seafloor Imagery: Examples from the Mediterranean Continental Margin

Sonar Systems ◽  
10.5772/18375 ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Savini
Keyword(s):  
Continental Margin ◽  
Side Scan Sonar ◽  
The Mediterranean

Role of the Adria plate structural heterogeneities on the dynamics of the Central-Western Mediterranean region

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalia Lo Bue ◽  
Manuele Faccenda ◽  
Jianfeng Yang
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Continental Margin ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Seismic Anisotropy ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Mantle Flow ◽  
Crystal Preferred Orientation ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Structural Heterogeneities

<p>In the geodynamic context of the slow Africa-Europe plates convergence, the Central-Western Mediterranean region has been involved in a complex subduction process, which in the last 30 Myr was characterized by the rapid retreat of the Ionian slab, the opening of back-arc extensional basins (i.e., Liguro-Provençal, Algerian, Alboran, and Tyrrhenian basins) and episodes of slab lateral tearing, segmentation and break-off.  A proper modelling of 3-D mantle flow evolution beneath the Mediterranean could provide important clarifications about the complex mantle dynamics of this region and help us understanding the interaction between surface tectono-magmatic processes and mantle convection patterns. </p><p>The mantle flow and its relations with plate horizontal and vertical motions can be determined by measuring seismic anisotropy generated by strain-induced lattice/crystal preferred orientation (LPO/CPO) of intrinsically anisotropic minerals. Seismic anisotropy is widespread in the Mediterranean and it shows an intricate pattern that likely has some relations with the recent (20-30 Myr) behavior of subducting slabs. The extrapolation of the mantle flow from seismic anisotropy is neither simple nor always warranted, especially at subduction zones where complex and non-steady-state 3D flow patterns may establish.  A promising approach, which helps reducing the number of plausible models that can explain a given anisotropy dataset, is to compare seismic measurements with predictions of numerical and experimental flow models (Long et al.,2007). Recently, Faccenda and Capitanio (2013) and Faccenda (2014) have extended this methodology to account for the non-steady state evolution typical of many subduction zones, yielding mantle fabrics that are physically consistent with the deformation history.</p><p>In this study, we apply a similar modelling approach to the complex Central-Western Mediterranean convergent margin. We use the wealth of observations from the Mediterranean region available in the literature to design and calibrate 3D thermo-mechanical subduction modelling. We test different initial configurations defined at 30 Ma according to the paleogeographic and tectonic reconstructions derived from (Lucente and Speranza, 2001; Carminati et al., 2012; van Hinsbergen et al., 2014) in order to optimize the fit between predicted and observed slabs position and obtain a final model configuration resembling the present-day surface and deeper structures.</p><p>In particular, here we want to evaluate the influence on rollback rates, trench shape and the occurrence and timing of slab tears (Mason et al., 2010) of structural heterogeneities within the Adria plate as proposed by (Lucente and Speranza, 2001). In all models, subduction migrates south-eastward driven by the subducting oceanic lithosphere, and slab lateral tearing or break-off occurs when a continental margin enters the trench. More importantly, we show that the presence of a stiffer continental promontory in central Adria together with a thinned continental margin in the Umbria-Marche region plays a fundamental role on (i) the development of a slab window below the Central Apennines, (ii) the retreat of the Northern Apenninic trench till the Adriatic Sea, and (iii) the retreat of the Ionian slab till the present-day position.</p>

Evolving miogeanticlines of the East Mediterranean (Hellenic, Calabrian and Cyprus Outer Ridges)

1977 ◽  
Vol 284 (1322) ◽  
pp. 255-285 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
East Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Ridge ◽  
Plan View ◽  
Simple Closure ◽  
Side Scan Sonar ◽  
Mountain Ranges ◽  
Air Gun ◽  
The Mediterranean

Extensive surveys with long range side-scan sonar, as well as an air-gun sub-bottom profiler and a narrow beam echo-sounder, are described for the eastern half of the Mediterranean Sea. The main structural trends are shown in plan view to follow the curve of the Hellenic Outer Ridge (previously known as the Mediterranean Ridge, East Mediterranean Ridge or Mediterranean Rise), and suggest a structural continuation into the Ionian Islands west of Greece. To the west a similar but smaller feature, the Calabrian Outer Ridge (external to the Calabrian Arc) is described. This is partly welded to the Hellenic Outer Ridge along a narrow suture zone. To the east the Hellenic Outer Ridge is shown to merge into the Cyprus Outer Ridge (external to the Cyprus Arc). The Hellenic Outer Ridge is clearly asymmetrical in cross section, with its steeper slope facing towards the interior of its Arc System. Folds and strike faults have been recognized on sonographs, particularly those of the Hellenic Outer Ridge. Cross-faults (possibly strike-slip) are numerous on the northern slope of this Outer Ridge. Cross-faults are especially well developed where the Ridge is narrowest and highest between Crete and North Africa, and where it may have been thickened by thrusting. In general the intensity of deformation decreases southwards across the Hellenic Outer Ridge. Slumping is probably responsible for progressively reducing the height of the relief produced by folding and faulting. The Hellenic, Calabrian and Cyprus Outer Ridges are interpreted as miogeanticlines related to the Plio-Quaternary phase of the continuing southwards outgrowth of the Hellenic, Calabrian and Cyprus Arc Systems. The large and small scale structures are of particular interest because they show the surface relief of some early evolutionary stages of dominantly compressional submarine mountain ranges before they are subject to subaerial erosion or modified by later tectonism. The driving force of the continuing orogeny is seen as resulting from local mantle diapirs spreading outwards from the Tyrrhenian, Aegean and Turkish regions, rather than from a simple closure of the Eastern Mediterranean due to the supposed convergence of the Eurasian and African ‘Plates’.

Bed forms of the Mediterranean undercurrent observed with side-scan sonar

1973 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil H. Kenyon ◽  
Robert H. Belderson
Keyword(s):  
Side Scan Sonar ◽  
Bed Forms ◽  
The Mediterranean
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