The Ioffe Drift

In 2010, the calcareous Ioffe Drift was discovered in the SW Atlantic. It differs from terrigenous contourites in origin, grain-size distribution, chemical and mineral composition, and provides new knowledge on biogenic contourites deposited in the pelagic realm under the influence of the Antarctic Bottom Water flow from the Vema Channel. Major intervals of prevailing erosion indicate paleoceanographic changes associated with the reorganization of deep-sea circulation and increased bottom water production in the Southern Ocean during the Early Pleistocene and Mid-Pleistocene Transition.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 195 pages
Publication date: 27 October 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

The 2010 discovery of the calcareous Ioffe Drift in the SW Atlantic offers a fresh perspective on contourite theory. While sharing similar behavior with bottom water dynamics, these rare and understudied calcareous contourites differ from their terrigenous counterparts in origin, grain-size distribution, chemical and mineral composition of sedimentary particles. A comprehensive multidisciplinary investigation of the Ioffe Drift has yielded valuable insights into biogenic contourites formed in the pelagic realm under conditions of limited biological productivity and terrigenous material supply, influenced by the Antarctic Bottom Water flow from the Vema Channel. The study has identified significant intervals of prevailing erosion, suggesting profound paleoceanographic changes likely associated with the reorganization of deep-sea circulation and enhanced bottom water production in the Southern Ocean during the Early Pleistocene and, particularly, around the Mid-Pleistocene Transition.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030828738
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021