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Scientific Review. Geographical Sciences

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CONTOURITE SYSTEMS OF THE BRAZIL CONTINENTAL RISE (SOUTH ATLANTIC)

Борисов Д.Г., Мурдмаа И.О., Иванова Е.В., Левченко О.В.
Along-slope bottom (contour) currents play an important role in sedimentation at oceanic margins. A wide range of sediment bodies (contourite drifts) and erosional features (channels, moats, terraces) are formed under the influence of bottom currents. Analysis of the very high resolution seismic profiles and sediment cores obtained on the Brazil continental rise during the 33rd, 35th and 37th cruises of the RV “Akademik Ioffe” revealed buried wave-like depositional bodies (sediment waves) in the northern part of the waves field that covers two huge contourite drifts. The drifts and sediment waves are considered to be formed by the bottom current of the Antarctic waters. Significant changes in the bottom circulation and corresponding sedimentation mechanisms resulted in gradual burial of the revealed contourite depositional system.