Journal
DEEP-SEA RESEARCH PART I-OCEANOGRAPHIC RESEARCH PAPERS
Volume 52, Issue 3, Pages 457-475Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.dsr.2004.10.005
Keywords
marine geology; mud volcanoes; sidescan sonar; seafloor mapping; manned submersible; eastern Mediterranean
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Submersible observations and seafloor mapping over areas of mud volcanism in the eastern Mediterranean Sea reveal an abundance of methane-rich fluid emissions, as well as specific seep-associated fauna (e.g. tubeworms, bivalves and chemosynthetic bacteria) and diagenetic deposits (i.e. carbonates crusts). Cold seeps characterized by abundant chemosynthetic bivalves, bacterial mats, and reduced sediments are the surface manifestations of present-day expulsion of methane-rich fluids, whereas massive carbonate crusts with clusters of tubeworms indicate long-term seeping that might be dormant at present. The surface characteristics of the mud flows (roughness of the surface, gas escape features, presence of hemipelagic dust, colonization by benthic fauna, development of carbonate crusts) present a high variability related to the intensity and age of seepage, and can be correlated to the observed backscatter variations. The repartition of the mud flows and active seeps is organized concentrically around the centre of the mud volcanoes and potential parasitic cones. Sidescan sonar backscatter patterns are thus indirectly related to spatial and temporal variation of mud volcanic activity. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available