Evidence of bottom current-controlled Quaternary sedimentation on the Eastern Sicily margin (Ionian Sea)

Abstract

There is still little knowledge concerning the depositional transitional environment located between the continental escarpment and the abyssal plain in the Eastern Sicily margin. Currently, the sedimentary processes that take place in deep sea are not fully understood. Integrated geological and geophysical investigation methods allow us to study these particular deposits, which form under conditions still to be fully understood. In this study we present the identification of large up -slope and up -current sediment waves of contouritic origin never observed before. We infer the current dominated deposits to have started to develop since about 650 ka in response to an increase of bottom current velocity associated to the Mid Pleistocene Transition.