Initiation of the European deglaciation as recorded in the northwestern Bay of Biscay slope environments (Meriadzek Terrace and Trevelyan Escarpment): a multi-proxy approach

Zaragosi, Sébastien; Eynaud, Frédérique; Pujol, Claude; Auffret, Gérard-André; Turon, Jean‐Louis; Garlan, Thierry

doi:10.1016/s0012-821x(01)00332-6

Cited by 113 publications

(208 citation statements)

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“…The quantification of the Fleuve Manche derived sediment mass presented here is based on the direct estimation of the hemipelagic and turbiditic mass deposited downstream the English Channel assuming that the hemipelagic and turbiditic accumulation were deposited from the Fleuve Manche through suspension settling of turbid hypopycnal surface plumes (e.g. Zaragosi et al, 2001;Toucanne et al, 2009a) and density flows (i.e. turbidity currents) (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The 24-16 ka interval is considered for two reasons. Firstly, because this interval encompasses the last significant period of Fleuve Manche runoff, the main discharges occurring between ca 18.3 and 17 ka as revealed by high-resolution sedimentological (Zaragosi et al, 2001;Toucanne et al, 2009a), palynological (Eynaud et al, 2007) and geochemical studies (Ménot et al, 2006). Secondly, because the limiting ages of this interval correspond to well-defined stratigraphic horizons in the Bay of Biscay sequences, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Sejrup et al, 2000;Clark et al, 2004;Carr et al, 2006;Bradwell et al, 2008;Sejrup et al, 2009). However, the timing of intense Fleuve Manche runoff, ca 20-17 ka (Zaragosi et al, 2001;Ménot et al, 2006;Eynaud et al, 2007;Toucanne et al, 2008;Toucanne et al, 2009a), i.e. at time of maximum decay of the BIS and FIS (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rinterknecht et al, 2006), suggests that the river activity was strongly dependent on the surrounding ice sheet runoff, and thus potentially reflected glacial conditions in the North Sea basin. Toucanne et al (2009a) suggest that huge and extensive sediment accumulation deposited downstream from the English Channel, both in the Armorican turbidite system Toucanne et al, 2008) and in the hemipelagic environments of the Bay (Zaragosi et al, 2001;Eynaud et al, 2007;Toucanne et al, 2009a) (Fig. 1), originates from such a glacially-forced drainage configuration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, the sedimentological imprint of these events are easily identifiable in the Bay of Biscay in sediment cores, by icerafted detritus (IRD)-rich layers (i.e. Heinrich layers, Zaragosi et al, 2001;Auffret et al, 2002;Scourse et al, 2009b), as well as on acoustic data, each Heinrich layers (HL) corresponding to seismic horizon in both hemipelagic and turbiditic environments (Auffret et al, 1996;Toucanne, 2008) (Figs. 2 and 3).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The first estimation of Fleuve Manche palaeoriver discharge during the last deglaciation: Evidence for Fennoscandian ice sheet meltwater flow in the English Channel ca 20–18 ka ago

Toucanne

Zaragosi

Bourillet

et al. 2010

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

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Abstract:The Fleuve Manche (English Channel) palaeoriver represents the largest river system that drained the European continent during Pleistocene lowstands, particularly during the Elsterian (Marine Isotope Stage 12) and Saalian Drenthe (MIS 6) glaciations when extensive ice advances into the North Sea area forced the central European rivers to flow southwards to the Bay of Biscay (NE Atlantic). Numerous long piston cores and high-resolution acoustic data from the northern Bay of Biscay have been correlated using a well-constrained chronostratigraphical framework, and for the first time allow the estimation of the discharge of the Fleuve Manche palaeoriver at the end of the last glacial period (i.e. Weichselian). Our results, discussed in the light of relationships between river loads and drainage area characteristics, strongly suggest that the Bay of Biscay collected sediment-laden meltwater from the Northern European lowlands and the southern part of the Fennoscandian ice sheet at the end of the last glacial period and particularly during the paroxysmal phase of the European deglaciation ca 20-18 ka ago. This demonstrates that the Fleuve Manche drainage area at that time was equivalent to those dating from the major Elsterian and Saalian Drenthe glaciations. Based on our data, we propose a revision of the palaeogeographical and palaeoglaciological evolution of the North Sea area while showing that the British and Fennoscandian ice sheets entered the North Sea basin until ca 18 ka initiating isostatic adjustment of the basin. This allowed the North Sea fluvial system to flow southwards through the Dover Strait. Finally, we discuss the Fleuve Manche freshwater discharge during the maximum European ice sheet retreat ca 18 ka. The estimated discharge at this time appears important and sufficiently sustained to possibly contribute to the profound destabilisation of the thermohaline circulation recognised in the North Atlantic from ca 18 to 16 ka.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The first estimation of Fleuve Manche palaeoriver discharge during the last deglaciation: Evidence for Fennoscandian ice sheet meltwater flow in the English Channel ca 20–18 ka ago

Toucanne

Zaragosi

Bourillet

et al. 2010

Earth and Planetary Science Letters

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Causes, consequences and chronology of large‐magnitude palaeoflows in Middle and Late Pleistocene river systems of northwest Europe

Westaway

Bridgland

2010

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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This study examines the record of high-palaeofl ow phases in river systems in northwest Europe, investigating their causes (whether due to 'unique' events, such as the formation of the Dover Strait, or as 'characteristic' consequences of climate change), examining their consequences with regard to landscape evolution and possible effects on climate, and determining the chronology of key events. Large-magnitude palaeofl ows, more than an order-of-magnitude larger than present-day fl ood peaks, are shown to be characteristic of rivers in this region at particular times within the Pleistocene. These events, the most recent of which were during Heinrich events 2 and 1 at ~25 and ~17 ka, were evidently caused by the combined effects of glacial outwash, rainfall, snowmelt and melting of permafrost in some proportion. They released such large volumes of water that the thermohaline circulation of the Atlantic Ocean, and thus the climate, may well have been affected. These large-magnitude palaeofl ows are thus a signifi cant aspect of the Pleistocene Earth system that has hitherto gone unquantifi ed.

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Comments to Westaway and Bridgland – ‘Causes, consequences and chronology of large‐magnitude palaeoflows in Middle and Late Pleistocene river systems of northwest Europe’

Toucanne

Zaragosi

Eynaud

et al. 2011

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Westaway and Bridgland (Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 35: 1071-1094, 2010) discuss the causes, the consequences and the chronology of large-magnitude palaeoflows in Pleistocene river systems of northwest Europe. Based on their calculations, these authors suggest that the combined effects of meltwater from Alpine glaciers, rainfall, snowmelt and melting of permafrost during Heinrich Events (HEs) explain the large-magnitude discharges of the Fleuve Manche palaeoriver which punctuated the last glacial period.This comment identifies some approximations and inconsistencies regarding (i) the timing of the last massive Fleuve Manche palaeoriver discharge and its relation to the de-glacial pattern of the British-Irish Ice Sheet (Point 1); (ii) the palaeoclimatic conditions prevailing on land and the antagonistic forcing mechanism proposed by the authors to explain the large-magnitude palaeoflows (Point 2); (iii) Westaway and Bridgland's (2010) revised interpretation of the deep-sea records from the Bay of Biscay (Point 3); and (iv) the relationship between the offshore sedimentation since the Middle Pleistocene and the formation of the Dover Strait (Point 4). Each point is discussed.

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Initiation of the European deglaciation as recorded in the northwestern Bay of Biscay slope environments (Meriadzek Terrace and Trevelyan Escarpment): a multi-proxy approach

Cited by 113 publications

References 31 publications

The first estimation of Fleuve Manche palaeoriver discharge during the last deglaciation: Evidence for Fennoscandian ice sheet meltwater flow in the English Channel ca 20–18 ka ago

The first estimation of Fleuve Manche palaeoriver discharge during the last deglaciation: Evidence for Fennoscandian ice sheet meltwater flow in the English Channel ca 20–18 ka ago

Causes, consequences and chronology of large‐magnitude palaeoflows in Middle and Late Pleistocene river systems of northwest Europe

Comments to Westaway and Bridgland – ‘Causes, consequences and chronology of large‐magnitude palaeoflows in Middle and Late Pleistocene river systems of northwest Europe’

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