ALBERT

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Im nördlichen Bereich der Provinz Kantabrien (Nordspanien) wurden Sedimente der "Mittelkreide" (Oberalb und Cenoman) unter stratigraphischen, faziellen und sedimentologi sehen Gesichtspunkten bearbeitet. Strukturell gehört die Region zum Nordkantabrischen Becken (NCB), dessen Einsenkung mit tektonischen Bewegungen im mittleren Valangin beginnt. Das NCB ist eines der zahlreichen Sedimentbecken, die sich infolge des mesozoischen Riftings und Spreadings in der Biscaya auf dem iberischen Nordschelf bilden. Strukturgeologisch zeigt das NCB eine E/W-Ausrichtung zwischen zwei Hochgebieten im S und N (Cabuemiga-Rücken und Liencres-Hoch), die als "Santillana-Achse" bezeichnet wird. Im W grenzt das NCB an das Paläozoikum des Asturischen Massivs. Östlich Santander wird es strukturell und faziell durch die N/S-streichende Rio-Miera-Flexur vom hochsubs identen Basko-Kantabrischen Becken abgetrennt. Die Sedimentation im NCB wird stark von tektonischen Ereignissen im sich bildenden Biscaya-Ozeans beeinflußt, durch welche die Strukturierung der Schichtenfolge in sedimentäre Megasequenzen erfolgt. Im Alb und Cenoman können folgende Megasequenz-Grenzen erkannt werden, durch welche die Megasequenzen des Alb und Cenoman definiert werden: • Santander-Tectoevent (Cenoman/Turon-Grenzbereich) • Vraconian Tectoevent (hohes Oberalb) • "Mittelalb-Ereignis" ("break-up unconformity", [?hohes] Unteralb). Das Mittelalb-Ereignis fuhrt im Arbeitsgebiet zum Zerbrechen der faziell wenig differenzierten Urgon-Karbonatplattformen des Clansay (Oberapt/Unteralb) in ostvergente Kippschollen. In den entstehenden N/S-orientierten Halbgräben werden im Mittelaib fluvio-deltaische Klastika abgelagert, während auf den Hochschollen eine Verkarstung erfolgt. Im tiefen Oberalb initiiert ein transgressiver Puls die weit verbreitete Ablagerung mariner Sedimente im NCB. Dieses transgressive Ereignis ist in ganz Iberien nachzuweisen. Im Laufe des Oberalb kommt es zu einem Onlap mariner Sedimente auch auf den ehemals emergenten Hochschollen und zu einem Ausgleich des durch das Mittelalb-Ereignis erzeugten Paläoreliefs. Durch weit verbreitete Emersion des NCB's infolge tektonischer Bewegungen im oberen Oberalb (Vraconian Tectoevent) wird die sedimentäre Megasequenz des Alb beendet. Die sedimentäre Megasequenz des Cenoman beginnt im Alb/Cenoman-Grenzbereich mit der Progradation deltaischer Klastika. Die im NCB der Santillana-Achse folgend von W nach E kanalisiert werden. Dieses "Santillana-Delta" mündet im Bereich Galizano/Langre östlich Santander in das Basko-Kantabrische Becken und verzahnt sich dort mit den Prodelta-Sedimenten des Valmaseda-Deltas ("Schwarzer Flysch" der Bilbao-Region). Die differentielle Subsidenz im NCB in Folge des Vraconian Tectoevents wird von den Delta-Sedimenten ausgeglichen. Im tiefen Untercenoman (untere Mantelliceras mantelli-Zone) gestaltet eine bedeutende transgressive Faziesentwicklung das gesamte NCB in einen vollmarinen, karbonatisch dominierten Ablagerungsraum um. Dieser transgressive Puls dürfte mit der "Untercenoman-Transgression" sensu lato korrelieren. Im Cenoman können folgende Ammoniten-Biozonen erkannt werden: • Obercenoman: Eucalycoceras pentagonum-Zone, und Metoicoceras geslinianum-Zone [pars] • Mittel cenoman: [Cunningtoniceras inerme-Zone], Acanthoceras rhotomagense-Zone und A. jukesbrownei-Zone • Untercenoman: Mantelliceras mantelli-Zone und M. dixoni-Zone. Das höchste Obercenoman (oberer Teil der geslinianum-Zone und die Neocardioceras juddii-Zone) fehlt im NCB. In der oberen mantelli-Zonc des NCB etabliert sich in weiten Bereichen die flachmarine Karbonat-Fazies der Altamira-Plattform, die sich östlich der Rio-Miera-Flexur mit mächtigen Beckensedimenten (Mergel, Knollenkalke, Kalk/Mergel-Rhythmite) verzahnt. Im Mittel- bis unteren Obercenoman wird die Altamira-Plattform in drei Schritten von E nach W "ertränkt". Die prominenten Drowning-Unconformities (mineralisierte Hartgründe mit Ammoniten) werden dabei stufenweise nach W jünger. Im Obercenoman (pentagonum-Zono) ist die gesamte Altamira-Plattform ertränkt und weite Teile des NCB werden in die Beckensedimentation einbezogen. Die Ablagerungsgeschichte des Cenoman wird durch das Santander-Tectoevent in der oberen geslinianum-Zonc beendet, infolgedessen weite Teile des NCB trockenfallen. Selbst in hochsubsidenten Beckenprofilen ist der Cenoman/Turon-Grenzbereich durch eine Schicht lücke gekennzeichnet. Die fazielle Entwicklung der cenomanen Megasequenz ist durch die schubweise voranschreitende ("pulsierende") Cenoman-Transgression geprägt. Insgesamt können im Cenoman sechs Sequenzgrenzen (SB's) erkannt werden, durch die die Ablagerungssequenzen DS Ce I bis VI definiert werden. Ihre stratigraphischen Positionen sind: • SB Ce VI = obere geslinianum-Zonc • SB Ce V = Wende Mittel/Obercenoman • SB Ce IV = basale jukesbrownei-Zone • SB Ce III = hohe dixoni-Zone • SB Ce II = obere mantelli-Zone • SB Ce I = untere mantelli-Zone. Im regionalen Vergleich zeigt sich für das Cenoman eine gute Übereinstimmung mit sequentiellen Gliederungen aus dem Basko-Kantabrischen Raum. Überregionale Vergleiche dokumentieren, daß viele der Meeresspiegel-Bewegungen im Cenoman (z.B. SB Ce III, mfz in der rhotomagense-Zone, SB Ce IV, HST in der pentagonum-Zone) über weite Entfernungen korreliert werden können und wahrscheinlich eustatische Signale darstellen. Die Korrelation mit der "globalen Meeresspiegel-Kurve" (Exxon Chart) ist schlecht. Betrachtet man die im Cenoman im NCB abgelagerten Sedimente als "2nd-order cycle", so zeigt sich ein übergeordneter transgressiver Trend mit einem maximalen Onlap im Obercenoman innerhalb der mfz von DS Ce VI (pentagonum-Zone). Das NCB zeigt im Oberalb und Cenoman im biogeographischen Vergleich starke tethyale Einflüsse. Das Turrilites scheuchzerianus/Neohibolites ultimus-Evert. im tiefen Mittelcenoman des NCB korreliert in bio-, sequenz- und Isotopen-stratigraphischer Hinsicht mit dem Actinocamax primus-Event NW-Europas, womit eine eventstratigraphische Anbindung an das "temperierte" Cenoman erreicht werden kann.

Description: Mid-Cretaceous (Upper Albian and Cenomanian) sediments in the northern part of the province of Cantabria (northern Spain) were investigated with the emphasis on stratigraphical and sedimentological aspects. Structurally, the area belongs to the North Cantabrian Basin (NCB), the depositional history of which started with distensional tectonic movements in the Mid-Valanginian. The NCB is one of the numerous sedimentary basins which developed on the north Iberian continental margin in consequence of the rifting and spreading in the Bay of Biscay during Mesozoic times. It is a gulf-like basin with an E/W-elongation ("Santillana axis"). In the south and in the north the NCB is bordered by the Cabuemiga Ridge and the Liencres High, respectively. To the west, the NCB is bordered by the Palaeozoic Asturian Massif; in the east, the N/S-trending Rio Miera Flexure forms a structural boundary to the strongly subsiding Basco-Cantabrian Basin. The depositional history of the NCB was strongly influenced by tectonic events which can be related to the evolving Biscay Ocean. These tectoevents give rise to a gross subdivison of the succession into sedimentary megasequences. Three tectonically induced megasequence boundaries can be recognized in the Albian and Cenomanian, defining the Albian and Cenomanian megasequences: • Santander-Tectoevent (Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval) • Vraconian Tectoevent (late Late Albian) • "Middle Albian event" (break-up unconformity, [?late] Early Albian). The "Middle Albian event" caused a disintegration of the widespread Urgonian Clansay platforms (Late Aptian/Early Albian) into a palaeo-relief of eastward-dipping tilted blocks. In the N/S trending halfgrabens, fluvio-deltaic clastics were deposited during the Middle Albian, whereas the exposed tilted block crests were karstified. A strong transgressive pulse flooded the NCB in the early part of the Late Albian, giving rise to the widespread deposition of marine Upper Albian sediments. This transgressive event can also be recognised in southern Iberia and Portugal. During the later part of the Late Albian, the emergent crestal areas of the tilted blocks were onlapped by marine sediments, resulting in the filling-up of the Middle Albian palaeo-relief. Tectonic movements in the latest Albian (Vraconian tectoevent), causing emergence in wide parts of the NCB, terminated the Albian Megasequence. The Cenomanian megasequence started in the Albian/Cenomanian boundary interval with progradation of deltaic clastics, which were channelized (following the Santi liana-axis) into an eastward direction. This "Santillana Delta" flowed into the Basco-Cantabrian Basin east of Santander, where an interfingering with the prodeltaic sediments of the Valmaseda Delta ("Black Flysch" of the Bilbao area) took place. The differential subsidence in the NCB due to the Vraconian tectoevent was compensated by the deltaic sedimentation. In the lower part of the Mantelliceras mantelli Zone, a transgressive pulse flooded the NCB and led to the deposition of marine, predominantly calcareous sediments. This transgressive event is thought to correlate with the "Early Cenomanian transgression" sensu lato. In the Cenomanian succession of the NCB, the following ammonite zones can be recognized: • Late Cenomanian: Eucalycoceras pentagonum Zone and Metoicoceras geslinianum Zone [pars] • Middle Cenomanian: [Cunningtoniceras inerme Zone], Acanthoceras rhotomagense Zone and A. jukesbrownei Zone • Early Cenomanian: Mantelliceras mantelli Zone and M. dixoni-Zone. The upper part of the Upper Cenomanian (upper part of the geslinianum Zone and the Neocardioceras juddii Zone) is missing in the NCB. In the upper part of the mantelli Zone, deposition of the shallow marine carbonate sediments of the Altamira Platform became established over large areas of the NCB. In the strongly subsiding area east of the Rio Miera Flexure, thick successions of basinal sediments (marls, nodular limestones, marl/limestone rhythmites) were deposited contemporaneously. During the Middle to early Late Cenomanian, the Altamira Platform was drowned in three successive steps from east to west. The developing drowning unconformities (condensed, mineralized hardgrounds with ammonites) young towards the west, resulting in a backstepping of the Altamira Platform. In the Late Cenomanian (pentagonum Zone), all former sites of shallow marine carbonate deposition were drowned. The depositional history of the Cenomanian was terminated in the higher part of the geslinianum Zone when tectonic movements of the Santander tectoevent caused widespread emersion of the NCB. The resulting Cenomanian/Turonian boundary hiatus can be recognized both in the condensation horizons on top of the submerged platform as well as in the basinal successions. The facies development of the Cenomanian Megasequence is dominated by the pulsatory nature of the "Cenomanian transgression". Within the Cenomanian succession of northern Cantabria, six sequence boundaries can be recognized, which define six depositional (3rd-order) sequences (DS Ce I - VI). The stratigraphic positions of the sequence boundaries (SB) are as follows: • SB Ce VI = upper geslinianum Zone • SB Ce V = Middle/Late Cenomanian boundary interval • SB Ce IV = basal jukesbrownei Zone • SB Ce III = upper dixoni Zone • SB Ce II = upper mantelli Zone • SB Ce I = lower mantelli Zone. Comparison of this sequential subdivision with regional cycle charts from the Basco-Cantabrian area reveals good agreement, whereas correlation with the "global sea-level curve" (Exxon Chart) is poor. The extent to which many of the sea-level events in the Cenomanian (e.g. SB Ce III, mfz within the rhotomagense Zone, SB Ce IV, HST in the pentagonum Zone) can be correlated between basins elsewhere in Europe and Tunisia suggests that they were probably of eustatic nature. Considering the Cenomanian Megasequence as a "2nd-order cycle", an overall transgressive trend occurs throughout the Cenomanian; maximum coastal onlap was reached during the maximum flooding of DS Ce VI (pentagonum Zone). Palaeobiogeographically, the NCB shows strong tethyan affinities in the Late Albian and Cenomanian. The Turrilites scheuchzerianus/Neohibolites ultimus event in the early Middle Cenomanian permits a correlation with the Actinocamax primus event of the temperate Cenomanian of northern Europe by means of bio-, sequence and isotope stratigraphy.

Description: Los sedimentos del Cretácico medio (Albiense superior/Cenomaniense) en la parte septentrional de la Provincia de Cantabria han sido estudiados, centrándose en aspectos estratigráficos y sedimentolögicos. El área de estudio pertenece estructural mente a la Cuenca Norcantábrica (NCB), cuya historia depositional comenzó con movimientos tectónicos distensivos en el Valanginiense medio. La NCB es una de las numerosas cuencas sedimentarias que se desarrollaron en el margen continental norteibérico como consecuencia del "rifting" y apertura del golfo de Vizcaya durante el Mesozoico. Es una cuenca con forma de golfo con una elongatión E/W ("Eje de Santillana"). Los límites septentrional y meridional de la NCB son el "Liencres High" y el Escudo de Cabuemiga respectivamente. Hacia el Oeste, la NCB queda confinada por el Macizo Paleozoico Asturiano; en el Este, el límite estructural conocido como Flexión del Río Miera de dirección N/S, la separa de la Cuenca Vasco-cantábrica mucho más subsidente. La historia deposicional de la NCB estuvo fuertemente influenciada por eventos tectónicos que pueden ser relacionados con la evolution del oceano de Vizcaya. Estos tectoeventos dieron lugar a una gruesa subdivision de la sucesión en megasecuencias sedimentarias. Tres límites de megasecuencias, que están inducidos por la tectónica, pueden ser reconocidos en el Albiense y Cenomaniense, definiendo respectivamente las megasecuencias albienses y cenomanienses: • Tectoevento de Santander (intervalo límite del Cenomaniense/Turoniense) • Tectoevento Vraconiense (Albiense superior tardío) • "Evento del Albiense medio" (discordancia de ruptura, Albiense inferior [?tardio]). El "Evento del Albiense medio" causo una desintegración de las plataformas urgonianas clansayenses (Aptiense superior/Albiense inferior), que estaban muy extendidas en paleorelieves de bloques basculados hacia el Este. Se produjo durante el Albiense medio una sedimentatión clástica fluvio-deltaica en los semi-grabenes, de dirección N/S, mientras que las cimas expuestas de los bloques basculados sufrieron procesos de karstificatión. Un fuerte pulso transgresivo inundó la NCB al comienzo del Albiense superior, dando lugar al depósito de sedimentos marinos en el Albiense superior due alcanzaron una muy amplia extensión. Durante la parte superior del Albiense superior las crestas de los bloques basculados fueron recubiertas por sedimentos marinos, indicando el equilibrio del paleorelieve en el Albiense medio. Los procesos tectónicos al final del Albiense superior (Tectoevento Vraconiense), que causaron la emersión de amplias zonas de la NCB, terminan la megasecuencia albiense. La megasecuencia cenomaniense comenzó en el limite Albiense/Cenomaniense con la progradatión de material clástico deltaico que fue canalizado (siguiendo el Eje de Santillana) hacia el Este. Dicho delta ("Delta de Santillana") discurria al Este de Santander hacia la Cuenca Vasco-cantabrica, interfiriendo con los sedimentos de prodelta del Delta de Valmaseda ("Flysch Negro"). En la parte inferior de la zona de Mantelliceras mantelli, un pulso transgresivo inundó la NCB y permitió el depósito de sedimentos marinos, predominantemente calcáreos. Este evento transgresivo puede ser correlacionado con la "transgresión del Cenomaniense initial" sensu lato. En la sucesion Cenomaniense de la NCB pueden ser reconocidas las siguientes zonas: • Cenomaniense superior: Zona de Eucalycoceras pentagonum y la Zona de Metoicoceras geslinianum [pars] • Cenomaniense medio: [Zona de Cunningtoniceras inerme], Zona de Acanthoceras rhotomagense y Zona de A. jukesbrownei • Cenomaniense inferior: Zona de Mantelliceras mantelli y Zona de M. dixoni. La parte superior del Cenomaniense superior (parte superior de la zona de M. geslinianum y la Zona de Neocardioceras judii) está ausente en la NCB. Los sedimentos marino-someros de naturaleza carbonatada de la "Plataforma de Altamira" comenzaron a depositarse en amplias zonas de la NCB en la parte superior de la zona de mantelli. Al Este de la Flexión de Río Miera, en un área fuertemente subsidente, fueron depositadas contemporáneamente potentes sucesiones de sedimentos de cuenca (margas, calizas nodulares y ritmitas de marga/caliza). Durante el Cenomaniense medio hasta la base del Cenomaniense superior, la Plataforma de Altamira fue inundada desde el Este al Oeste en tres intervalos sucesivos. El desarrollo de discordancias de inundatión ("drowning unconformities" = series condensadas, "hardgrounds" mineralizados con ammonites) resultan más recientes hacia el Oeste, concluyendo en un basculamiento hacia atrás de la Plataforma de Altamira. En el Cenomaniense superior (Zona de pentagonum) todos los anteriores lugares caracterizados por el depósito de carbonates marino-someros fueron anegados. La historia deposicional del Cenomaniense acabó en la parte alta de la zona de geslinianum, cuando movimientos tectonicos del Tectoevento de Santander causaron la emersión generalizada de la NCB. El hiato resultante puede ser reconocido en los horizontes condensados a techo de las plataformas sumergidas e igualmente en las sucesiones de cuenca. El desarrollo de facies del Cenomaniense está dominado por el carácter de pulsos que tuvo la "transgresión cenomaniense". Seis límites de secuencia pueden reconocerse dentro de la sucesión cenomaniense del norte de Cantabria, los cuales definen seis secuencias deposicional es de tercer orden (DS Ce I-VI). La positión estratigráfica de los límites de secuencia (SB) son los siguientes: • SB Ce VI = parte superior de la Zona de geslinianum • SB Ce V = intervalo límite del Cenomaniense medio/superior • SB Ce IV = base de la Zona de jukesbrawnei • SB Ce III = parte superior de la Zona de dixoni • SB Ce II = parte superior de la Zona de mantelli • SB Ce I = parte inferior de la Zona de mantelli. Una comparación de esta subdivisión secuencial con las tablas de ciclos regionales del reino vasco-cantábrico revela una buena correlatión, mientras que la correlatión con la "tabla global" ("Exxon chart") es pobre. La correlatión entre varias cuencas sugiere una causa eustática para los numerosos eventos de cambios del nivel del mar en el Cenomaniense (por ejemplo SB Ce III, mfz dentro de la Zona de rhotomagense, SB Ce IV, HST en la Zona de pentagonum). Considerando la megasecuencia del Cenomaniense como un "ciclo de segundo orden", una tendencia transgresiva general ocurrió a lo largo del Cenomaniense, el máxirno "onlap" costero fue alcanzado durante la máxima inundatión de la DS Ce VI (Zona de pentagonum). Desde el punto de vista paleobiogeográfico, la NCB muestra fuertes afinidades tethyales en el Albiense superior y el Cenomaniense. El "Evento de Turrilites scheuchzerianus/Neohibolites ultimus" al comienzo del Cenomaniense medio permite una correlation con el "Evento de Actinocamax primus" del Cenomaniense de la Provincia templada norteuropea.

Description: thesis

Description: DFG, SUB Göttingen

Description: Geodetic data in plate boundary zones reflect the accrual of tectonic strain and stress, which will ultimately be released in earthquakes, and so they can provide valuable insights into future seismic hazards. To incorporate geodetic measurements of contemporary deformation into the 2022 revision of the New Zealand National Seismic Hazard Model 2022 (NZ NSHM 2022), we derive a range of strain-rate models from published interseismic Global Navigation Satellite Systems velocities for New Zealand. We calculate the uncertainty in strain rate excluding strain from the Taupō rift–Havre trough and Hikurangi subduction zone, which are handled separately, and the corresponding moment rates. A high shear strain rate occurs along the Alpine fault and the North Island dextral fault belt, as well as the eastern coast of the North Island. Dilatation rates are primarily contractional in the South Island and less well constrained in the North Island. Total moment accumulation derived using Kostrov-type summation varies from 0.64 to 2.93×1019 N·m/yr depending on method and parameter choices. To account for both aleatory and epistemic uncertainty in the strain-rate results, we use four different methods for estimating strain rate and calculate various average models and uncertainty metrics. The maximum shear strain rate is similar across all methods, whereas the dilatation rate and overall strain rate style differ more significantly. Each method provides an estimate of its own uncertainty propagated from the data uncertainties, and variability between methods provides an additional estimate of epistemic uncertainty. Epistemic uncertainty in New Zealand tends to be higher than the aleatory uncertainty estimates provided by any single method, and epistemic uncertainty on dilatation rate exceeds the aleatory uncertainty nearly everywhere. These strain-rate models were provided to the NZ NSHM 2022 team and used to develop fault-slip deficit rate models and scaled seismicity rate models.

Description: Highlights: • The interactions between vortices in a four-vortex flow field using a rotating water tank. • Driven by the strain field, non-ideal vortices stretch along the centerline, and manifest an asymmetric stretching pattern. • Non-ideal vortices disperse vorticity, accumulate filaments, and exhibit distinctive variations in anti-symmetric vorticity distribution, impacting respective merging efficiency. Abstract: Oceanic vortex merging is an important physical process for the vortex evolution and its impact on marine environment. However, limitation of the in-situ oceanic observational data of vortex merging inhabits its better understanding. This study investigates the interactions between non-ideal vortices in a four-vortex flow field in a rotating tank. We examine the merging stages of anticyclonic vortices, influenced by two other cyclonic vortices and their respective dynamical behaviors and quantify the effects of merging on vortex characteristics. The results indicate a strong shear flow between two counter-rotating vortices, which accelerates the motion of the anticyclonic vortex, while cyclonic ones exhibit greater stability. Subsequently, different stages of non-ideal vortex merging in a co-rotating framework are defined, primarily the encircling stage, rapid approaching stage, and merging vortex stage. In addition, we quantify and compare variations in morphological parameters and anti-symmetric vorticity distribution of non-ideal vortices across these stages. The stretching of vortices primarily occurs along the line connecting their centers due to the strain field exerted by neighboring vortices, resulting in an asymmetric stretching pattern in the interactions among non-ideal vortices. Furthermore, during the merging process, non-ideal vortices disperse vorticity outward and accumulate vortex filaments in the surrounding environment, leading to distinctive variations in anti-symmetric vorticity distribution, affecting their respective merging efficiency.

Description: During the last decades, the Chilean margin offshore Maule (34±S −36±S) had been reported as a highly locked and seismically quiet zone. The stress-accumulated state finished on the 27th of February 2010, when a megathrust earthquake (with Mw = 8.8) ruptured » 400 km of the Nazca-South America plate boundary. Unfortunately, up to now little was known about the seismic structure offshore Maule. In the frame of the third phase of the project SFB 574 “Volatiles and Fluids in Subduction Zones” of the Christan-Albrechts University of Kiel, seismic data was analyzed in order to obtain detailed images of the deep structure of the margin and of the outer rise. Here are presented constraints on the forearc and the subduction zone structure of the rupture area derived from seismic refraction and wide-angle data. The results show a wedge shaped body » 40 km wide with typical sedimentary velocities interpreted as a frontal accretionary prism (FAP). Landward of the imaged FAP, the velocity model shows an abrupt velocity-contrast suggesting a lithological change, which is interpreted as the contact between the FAP and the paleo accretionary prism (backstop). The backstop location is coincident with the seaward limit of the aftershocks, defining the updip limit of the co-seismic rupture and the seismogenic zone. Furthermore, the seaward limit of the aftershocks coincides with the location of the shelf break in the entire earthquake rupture area (33.5±S−38.5±S), which is interpreted as the location of the backstop along the margin. Published seismic profiles at the northern and southern limit of the rupture area also show the presence of a strong horizontal velocity gradient imaging the seismic backstop at a distance of » 30 km from the deformation front. The seismic wide-angle reflections from the top of the subducting oceanic crust constrain the location of the plate boundary offshore, dipping » 10±. The projection of the epicenter of the Maule earthquake onto our derived interplate boundary yielded a hypocenter around 20 km depth. This implies that the earthquake nucleated somewhere within the seismogenic zone, neither at its updip nor at its downdip limit. The second part of this thesis focuses on the dependency between the incoming plate’s bend faulting, lithospheric hydration and shallow outer rise seismic activity. To support the interpretation, are presented Vp and Vs seismic models obtained from wide angle seismic data and the derived 2D Poisson’s ratio distribution at the outer rise. The oceanic lithosphere shows a high degree of hydration, due to the water infiltration through the bending-related faults exposed to seawater. This process is presumably intensified bythe existence of a seamount in the area. It is concluded that the water infiltrates deep into the lithosphere, triggering shallow earthquakes in the outer rise and likely serpentinization in the mantle, estimated to be about 10%.

Description: In the past three decades, altimeter-based remote sensing has been a widely used system to estimate ocean surface currents. However, it remains a great challenge to effectively resolve scales below ∼100 km at high latitudes and ∼ 300 km at mid-latitudes. In this study, we propose a scheme that utilizes geostrophic equilibrium and surface quasigeostrophy theory (SQG) to improve surface current resolution by incorporating remote sensing sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height (SSH), and sea surface salinity (SSS) observations. The scheme separately characterizes the larger-scale flows and smaller-scale motions of surface currents. A case study encompassing the Agulhas surface current demonstrates that the smaller-scale motions associated with temperature fronts are well captured by introducing high spatial-temporal resolution SST data. Furthermore, the reconstructed surface current is systemically evaluated by using surface drogued drifters and a Lagrangian synthetic particle tracking tool throughout the South Indian Ocean (SIO) for 2011–2015. Notably, the reconstructed zonal velocity component is closer to the drifter observations than the meridional counterpart and corresponding velocity phase. Regionally, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) showcases superior reconstruction performance, with higher skill scores and lower Lagrangian separation distances. However, a relatively large uncertainty is observed around the Agulhas Retroflection (AR) and Greater Agulhas System (GAS), which are linked to complicated regional dynamic regimes. We finally conduct four simulation experiments to explore the effect of different SST products on surface current reconstruction within the subdomain AR. The results indicate the varying potentials of the four evaluated SST products for informing surface current applications. Specifically, the MWIRSST enhances the likelihood of particles reaching the target field, while DMI OI shortens the average deviation distance of the arrived particles.

Description: Sprat (Sprattus sprattus) is one of the most commercially exploited fish species in the Baltic Sea and expresses a pronounced seasonal migration pattern. Spawning takes place, among other places, in the Kiel Bight and Kiel Fjord in early summer. Juvenile sprat leave the nursery areas in late summer/early autumn to move to their feeding and overwintering grounds. What kind of orientation mechanisms sprat use for migration is not known yet. This study shows that juvenile sprat can use a time-compensated sun compass, heading towards the northeast, in the direction of their proposed overwintering grounds in Bornholm Basin. The sprats tested at the end of August oriented themselves in the predicted direction, whereas the sprats tested at the beginning of August only showed a random orientation. For the first time, this demonstrates the onset of migratory readiness in juvenile sprat, indicating the preparation for starting their migration.

Description: Laterally discontinuous subsea permafrost is present in the Arctic along the Beaufort Sea margin. Discontinuities within the permafrost include unfrozen zones from which fluids are free to migrate vertically or laterally, potentially accelerating permafrost degradation. This process releases greenhouse gases that further contribute to global warming. Generally, because of its contrasting viscoelastic properties compared to unfrozen sediments, permafrost can be easily detected by seismic methods. A discontinuity in subsea permafrost corresponds to the termination of a frozen layer. At this termination, seismic energy is diffracted rather than reflected or refracted. This condition is well suited for diffraction imaging. Here, we present a processing workflow to identify subsea permafrost discontinuities using the diffracted wavefield. This workflow aims to extract diffractions from seismic data collected on the continental shelf of the Canadian Beaufort Sea. The shallow water environment combined with the occurrence of subsea permafrost generates highly energetic free surface multiples that overprinted diffractions. Thus, preliminary steps of the processing flow focused on multiple attenuation. A recursive velocity analysis, starting with a 100 common-midpoint (CMP) interval and ending with a 5 CMP interval, is also performed to better capture lateral permafrost discontinuities. Then, the full wavefield data are migrated, collapsing the energy distributed along the hyperbolic trajectory of the diffractions at their apexes. Afterwards, reflections are adaptively subtracted from the migrated data. Finally, demigration of the residuals (i.e., collapsed diffractions) is performed. The resulting image reveals several near-surface diffractions attributed to discontinuities at the top of the subsea permafrost. Diffractions present distinct amplitude, frequency and velocity characteristics suggesting that various permafrost conditions coexist across the continental shelf.

Description: Mud volcanoes (MVs) have been found in various geological settings on passive and active margins but are mostly known from collision zones on Earth. Mud volcanoes are well known to occur on land (e.g. in Azerbaijan), where at least 1000 MVs have been counted. The amount of submarine MVs is believed to be much larger and recent improvements in seafloor mapping led to the discovery of many MVs in all oceans. To contribute to the knowledge of submarine MVs, in particular the internal structure across Venere MV, we conducted a multi-geophysical imaging approach using high resolution multibeam bathymetry, (constraining seafloor expressions), multichannel, and wide-angle seismic data (constraining the internal structure and P-wave velocity distribution). Venere MV is located at the southern rim of the Crotone forearc basin of the Calabrian arc, offshore southern Italy, in a water depth of ~1500 m. The dimension of Venere MV from its bathymetric expression is ~10 km in the EW- and ~7 km in the NS-direction. Two circular cones of ~100 m elevation and ~1.5 km diameter are located in the center of Venere MV. The upper 200 m below the seafloor (bsf) consist of layers with seismic P-wave velocities gradually increasing from 1.53 to 1.7 km/s (sub-) parallel to the seafloor. A prominent reflection ~200 m bsf and a sudden increase of seismic P-wave velocities from 1.7 to 1.8 km/s mark a change with depth in the internal structure, where reflections dip, and seismic P-wave velocities laterally decrease towards the center of Venere MV. The MCS as well as seismic P-wave velocity structure indicate two separate feeder conduits of the two center cones of Venere MV. However, we do not map the roots of the MV, which are at depths beyond our data resolution. Reduced reflectivity occurs ~4 km across the center of the MV 200 m bsf and downwards. We mapped the chaotic reflections of the acoustic basement in depths varying from 500 m to 800 m bsf. Reduced reflectivity of the acoustic basement occurs beneath the center of the MV as well. Mapping of the fault system leads to the subseafloor dimension of Venere MV that exceeds its seafloor dimension by the factor of two.