African humid periods triggered the reactivation of a large river system in Western Sahara
SKONIECZNY, C.
Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences (LOG) - UMR 8187 [LOG]
Unité Géosciences Marines [GM]
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Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences (LOG) - UMR 8187 [LOG]
Unité Géosciences Marines [GM]
SKONIECZNY, C.
Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences (LOG) - UMR 8187 [LOG]
Unité Géosciences Marines [GM]
Laboratoire d’Océanologie et de Géosciences (LOG) - UMR 8187 [LOG]
Unité Géosciences Marines [GM]
BARUSSEAU, J. -P.
Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditérranéens [CEFREM]
< Reduce
Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditérranéens [CEFREM]
Language
en
Article de revue
This item was published in
Nature Communications. 2015-11-10, vol. 6, p. 8751
Nature Publishing Group
English Abstract
The Sahara experienced several humid episodes during the late Quaternary, associated with the development of vast fluvial networks and enhanced freshwater delivery to the surrounding ocean margins. In particular, marine ...Read more >
The Sahara experienced several humid episodes during the late Quaternary, associated with the development of vast fluvial networks and enhanced freshwater delivery to the surrounding ocean margins. In particular, marine sediment records off Western Sahara indicate deposition of river-borne material at those times, implying sustained fluvial discharges along the West African margin. Today, however, no major river exists in this area; therefore, the origin of these sediments remains unclear. Here, using orbital radar satellite imagery, we present geomorphological data that reveal the existence of a large buried paleodrainage network on the Mauritanian coast. On the basis of evidence from the literature, we propose that reactivation of this major paleoriver during past humid periods contributed to the delivery of sediments to the Tropical Atlantic margin. This finding provides new insights for the interpretation of terrigenous sediment records off Western Africa, with important implications for our understanding of the paleohydrological history of the Sahara.Read less <
English Keywords
Geology and geophysics
Climate science
Earth sciences
ANR Project
LabexMER Marine Excellence Research: a changing ocean
Origin
Hal imported