CE10008 Glacial and non-lacial sediment transport in the Rockall Trough and Porcupine Bank (North Atlantic Ocean)

Submarine landslides are the DOMINANT sediment transport mechanism on continental margins, transferring Volumes in the order of tens to hundreds of Cubic kilometres from the continental Slope to as far as the deep abyssal plain. Submarine landslides are known to be capable of destroying marine infrastructure such as submarine telecommunication cables and oil platform installations. The Rockall Trough and its margins, a relatively Lightly-studied area, form a valuable natural laboratory holding information on Slope stability, sediment transport, bottom ocean currents, and ice-sheet history. The primary aim of this cruise will be to intensively core a small basin on the southeast margin of the RT, with the intention of determining the frequency of Slope instability on the Opposite margin and aid assessment of potential tsunami hazards and characterising deep-water gravity flow processes and Deposits in a Narrow basin and the effect this has on flow processes. This survey, led by University College Dublin (UCD), took place in June 2010 on board the Marine Institute #039;s R.V. Celtic Explorer. The primary aim of this cruise was to intensively core a small basin on the southeast margin of the RT, with the intention of determining the frequency of Slope instability on the Opposite margin and aid assessment of potential tsunami hazards and characterising deep-water gravity flow processes and Deposits in a Narrow basin and the effect has this on flow transformation processes. Piston corers and Vibrocores were completed during the survey. The objectives of the survey to 1) study submarine landslide Deposits and especially their timing, frequency and flow processes and 2) study the nature of the continental margin sedimentation during both glacial- and non-lacial periods in the relatively unknown part of the Porcupine Bank.海底滑坡（submarine landslides）是大陆边缘占主导地位的沉积物输运机制，可将数十至数百立方千米的沉积物从大陆坡搬运至深海平原。已知海底滑坡可摧毁海底通讯电缆、石油平台设施等海洋基础设施。罗卡尔海槽（Rockall Trough）及其周边陆缘是研究程度相对较低的区域，堪称一座宝贵的天然实验室，蕴藏着关于陆坡稳定性、沉积物输运、底层洋流以及冰盖演化历史的相关信息。本航次的核心目标是对罗卡尔海槽东南缘的小型盆地开展密集取芯作业，旨在明确另一侧陆坡的滑坡失稳频率，助力潜在海啸灾害风险评估，并解析窄盆地内的深水重力流过程与沉积特征，以及该盆地对流体运移过程的影响。本次调查由都柏林大学学院（University College Dublin, UCD）主导，于2010年6月搭载爱尔兰海洋研究所的“凯尔特探索者号”（R.V. Celtic Explorer）科考船开展作业。本次航次的核心目标为对罗卡尔海槽东南缘的小型盆地开展密集取芯，以明确另一侧陆坡的滑坡失稳频率，辅助开展潜在海啸灾害评估，并解析窄盆地内的深水重力流过程与沉积特征，以及该盆地对流体运移改造过程的影响。本次调查期间完成了活塞取芯与振动取芯作业。本次调查的目标包括：1）研究海底滑坡沉积，尤其是其形成时间、发育频率与流体运移过程；2）探究相对鲜为人知的豪猪滩（Porcupine Bank）区域内，冰期与非冰期时期的大陆边缘沉积作用特征。