In:
The Depositional Record, Wiley, Vol. 2, No. 1 ( 2016-05), p. 74-96
Abstract:
This study presents aggradation rates supplemented for the first time by carbonate accumulation rates from Mediterranean cold‐water coral sites considering three different regional and geomorphological settings: (i) a cold‐water coral ridge (eastern Melilla coral province, Alboran Sea), (ii) a cold‐water coral rubble talus deposit at the base of a submarine cliff (Urania Bank, Strait of Sicily) and (iii) a cold‐water coral deposit rooted on a predefined topographic high overgrown by cold‐water corals (Santa Maria di Leuca coral province, Ionian Sea). The mean aggradation rates of the respective cold‐water coral deposits vary between 10 and 530 cm kyr −1 and the mean carbonate accumulation rates range between 8 and 396 g cm −2 kyr −1 with a maximum of 503 g cm −2 kyr −1 reached in the eastern Melilla coral province. Compared to other deep‐water depositional environments the Mediterranean cold‐water coral sites reveal significantly higher carbonate accumulation rates that were even in the range of the highest productive shallow‐water Mediterranean carbonate factories (e.g. C ladocora caespitosa coral reefs). Focusing exclusively on cold‐water coral occurrences, the carbonate accumulation rates of the Mediterranean cold‐water coral sites are in the lower range of those obtained for the prolific Norwegian coral occurrences, but exhibit much higher rates than the cold‐water coral mounds off Ireland. This study clearly indicates that cold‐water corals have the potential to act as important carbonate factories and regional carbonate sinks within the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the data highlight the potential of cold‐water corals to store carbonate with rates in the range of tropical shallow‐water reefs. In order to evaluate the contribution of the cold‐water coral carbonate factory to the regional or global carbonate/carbon cycle, an improved understanding of the temporal and spatial variability in aggradation and carbonate accumulation rates and areal estimates of the respective regions is needed.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2055-4877
,
2055-4877
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2016
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2816049-6
