Late Pleistocene-Holocene evolution of the northern shelf of the Sea of Marmara

Cagatay M. N., Eriş K. K., Ryan W. B. F., Sancar Ü. S., POLONIA A., AKCER S., ...More

MARINE GEOLOGY, vol.265, pp.87-100, 2009 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 265
  • Publication Date: 2009
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.margeo.2009.06.011
  • Journal Name: MARINE GEOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.87-100
  • Keywords: Sea of Marmara, shelf, sea level, sapropel, seismic stratigraphy, isotopes, BLACK-SEA, LEVEL CHANGES, DEPOSITIONAL-ENVIRONMENTS, POSTGLACIAL TRANSGRESSION, RADIOCARBON CHRONOLOGY, BENTHIC FORAMINIFERA, MEDITERRANEAN SEA, ANATOLIAN FAULT, BOSPORUS STRAIT, SOUTH
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Chirp sub-bottom profiling, multibeam bathymetric mapping and a combination of faunal and isotopic analysis of molluscs and foraminifera in sediment cores on the northern shelf of the Sea of Marmara (SoM) provide evidence of sea-level excursions, water exchanges between the adjacent Mediterranean and Black Seas, and oscillating salinity over the last 160 ka bp. During the marine isotope stages MIS-2, MIS-3, MIS-4 and MIS-6 the SoM disconnected from the Mediterranean Sea and evolved into a lake. During MIS-1, MIS-5 and MIS-7, the SoM reconnected and became salty once again. Sapropels formed shortly after each invasion of Mediterranean saltwater observed in our cores. Concurrent suboxic-dysoxic conditions prevailed over quite shallow substrates on the shelf.