Publication Date:
2019
Description:
〈span〉An exceptionally large cold-water coral mound province (CMP) was recently discovered
extending over 80 km along the Namibian shelf (offshore southwestern Africa) in water
depths of 160–270 m. This hitherto unknown CMP comprises 〉2000 mounds with heights of
up to 20 m and constitutes the largest CMP known from the southeastern Atlantic Ocean.
Uranium-series dating revealed a short but intense pulse in mound formation during the early
to mid-Holocene. Coral proliferation during this period was potentially supported by slightly
enhanced dissolved oxygen concentrations compared to the present Benguela oxygen minimum
zone (OMZ). The subsequent mid-Holocene strengthening of the Benguela Upwelling
System and a simultaneous northward migration of the Angola-Benguela Front resulted in
an intensification of the OMZ that caused the sudden local extinction of the Namibian corals
and prevented their reoccurrence until today.〈/span〉
Print ISSN:
0091-7613
Electronic ISSN:
1943-2682
Topics:
Geosciences