Hydrodynamic controls on cold water coral growth and carbonate mound development at the SW and SE Rockall Trough Margin, NE Atlantic Ocean.

F. Mienis, H.C. de Stigter, M. White, G. Duineveld, H. de Haas, T.C.E. van Weering

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Long-term (≤1-year) records obtained by seabed observatories (BOBO) and repeated (24-h) CTD casts show the presence of a highly energetic environment in and around two cold-water carbonate-mound provinces, on the Southwest and Southeast Rockall Trough (SW and SE RT) margin. Carbonate mounds, covered with a thriving coral cover, are embedded mainly in the Eastern North Atlantic Water (ENAW) and are observed in a confined bathymetric zone between 600 and 1000 m water depth. Cold-water corals seem to be restricted in their growth by temperature and food availability. The presence of living corals on top of the carbonate mounds appears linked to the presence of internal waves and tidal currents in the water column, and consequently carbonate mound structures are shaped by the local hydrodynamic regime. Mound clusters have an elongated shape perpendicular to the regional contours and corresponding to the direction of the highest current speeds. On the SW RT margin temperature, salinity and current speed reflect a diurnal tidal pattern, causing maximum temperature variations at 900 m depth of more than 3 °C. Current speeds up to 45 cm s
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1655-1674
JournalDeep-Sea Research Part 1. Oceanographic Research Papers
Volume54
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hydrodynamic controls on cold water coral growth and carbonate mound development at the SW and SE Rockall Trough Margin, NE Atlantic Ocean.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this