Spatial variability of surficial sediments on the northern shelf of the Alboran Sea: the effects of hydrodynamic forcing and supply of sediment by rivers

Submarine deltaic geometries linked to steep, mountainous drainage basins in the northern shelf of the Alboran Sea: Filling the gaps in the spectrum of deltaic deposition

“…High, intermediate and low backscatter responses broadly correspond with sandy sediments with variable amounts of accessory grain sizes, from gravels to muds in consonance with decreasing backscatter intensities (Bárcenas et al, 2011). The backscatter response is indicative of variable depositional/erosional shelf regimes.…”

“…The distribution of surface sediments shows a good correlation with the backscatter response over a wide segment of the northern shelf of the Alboran Sea (Bárcenas et al, 2011). High, intermediate and low backscatter responses broadly correspond with sandy sediments with variable amounts of accessory grain sizes, from gravels to muds in consonance with decreasing backscatter intensities (Bárcenas et al, 2011).…”

“…(C) Real average sediment load data obtained from Liquete et al (2005)*. (D) Average sediment loads estimated by using the expression Qs = 7.24(PA / cos(α)) 0.718 (Mulder and Syvitski, 1996 A wind-forced tidal hydrodynamic model provides flow velocity and derived bed shear-stress values under contrasting wind conditions (easterly and westerly dominance) (Bárcenas et al, 2011). Although wind speeds are similar for the two main wind directions, both depthaveraged current velocity and bed shear-stress values are higher under easterly dominance.…”

“…Maximum current velocity and bed shear-stress exhibit a very high correlation with gravelly sands and high backscatter intensities, thus strongly controlling the location of storm-dominated environments. Mixed and fluvial-dominated environments occur in response to the competing influence of fluvial supplies and moderate hydrodynamic conditions (Bárcenas et al, 2011).…”

The influence of shelf-indenting canyons and infralittoral prograding wedges on coastal morphology: The Carchuna system in Southern Spain

“…The sand content decreases steadily seaward, ranging from more than 90% at a water depth of less than 20 m (landward of the well-marked increase in slope characterizing the Carchuna IPW) to approximately 70% in the vicinity of the shelf break. In contrast, the gravel content increases steadily from less than 5% at shallow depths to as much as 25% at the distal shelf margin (Bárcenas et al, 2011).…”