[IMMAGE] IMMAGE - Investigating Miocene Mediterranean-Atlantic Gateway Exchange

ICDP-Topics:
Climate & Ecosystems


Year of Application: 2016

Expedition ID: 99999

Current Status: Dormant

Africa
Contourites
Europe
Gibraltar
Marine Gateway
Morocco
Paleoclimate
Salt Giant
Spain
Master Data

Dr. Iuliana Vasiliev-Popa (Scientific Participant)
Dr. Markus Gutjahr (Scientific Participant)

Projektstart:
Projektdauer:
Geologisches Alter: Miocene

Latitude: 36°0'0''N
Kontinente:

Europe
Africa

Regionen & Städte:

Gibraltar
Spain

Longitude: 6°0'0''W
Länder:

Morocco
Spain

Themen:

Drilling Data

Drilling Depth:
Core Yield:
Core Length:
Amount of Drill Holes:
Amount of Drill Locations:

Core Length-Drill Depth-Ratio:
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Description

This ICDP workshop proposal is a key step in the planning and delivering of an amphibious drilling project focused on the Mediterranean-Atlantic gateway during the Late Miocene. The aim is to recover a complete record of Mediterranean-Atlantic exchange before, during and after the Messinian Salinity Crisis and to test physical oceanographic hypotheses for extreme high density overflow dynamics that do not exist in the world today on this scale. This will be achieved by targeting with IODP, off-shore sediments on either side of the present day gateway, Gibraltar, and with ICDP, recovering core from Gibraltar’s two precursor connections, the Rifian and Betic corridors which are now exposed on land in Morocco and Spain. By reconstructing exchange we can investigate the role of Mediterranean overflow during a period of significant palaeoclimatic change including the onset of northern hemisphere glaciation in the Late Miocene and explore the mechanisms for high amplitude environmental change in the Mediterranean. In addition, we will pioneer a new approach in research drilling where sites are explicitly identified to test hypotheses arising from physical oceanography modelling, in this instance the behaviour of oceanic overflows. This will achieve closer integration of physical and palaeo- oceanography research than has previously been possible and will allow us to evaluate the role of these key controls on thermohaline circulation. We are seeking funds to host a workshop in Morocco. The principle aim of this meeting is to strengthen the drilling proposal by bringing together and building a rare partnership between the geological community and physical oceanographers. The workshop will involve a fieldtrip to the recently discovered and exceptionally well-preserved gateway sediments exposed in the uplifted Rifian Corridor; an opportunity to examine existing Moroccan cores and cuttings recovered from close to proposed target sites; and discussions to refine the current on-shore and off-shore drilling strategy.