Thesis completed to acquire an MSc in Science:

 Titel: “A multidisciplinary study of the recent sedimentary processes in the Gollum Channel system to the West of Ireland”

 Main types of data:

The Gollum Channel System in the Porcupine Basin is the only major downslope sediment supplying system located on the Irish Atlantic margin. Data collected on the upper slope of the channel system, between 400m and 1700 m deep, was studied to investigate its recent activity, existence and activity of the deep-sea fan, turbiditic-contouritic sequences and there relationship with climate and ocean current changes.

A prominent feature in the morphology of the deep-sea channels are the steep flanks with numerous slides and slumps. These slope instabilities are often associated with pockmarks.

A careful attempt of palaeo-climate reconstruction was made using detailed particle size analyses of the piston core with additional information on carbonate content, magnetic susceptibility, density, SCOPIX-imagery, grey scales and luminosity. Using this time-frame, it appears the channels have not been active in the past 130ka. The deposits of only very few and weak turbidite currents have been observed during what was interpreted as the glacial intervals of the core. In the last two interglacial periods bottom currents have been reworking the sediment. In the Holocene that bottom current is significantly stronger, represented by a sandy contourite on top of both the piston core and the multicore. The northwards flowing Mediterranean Outflow Water is most likely responsible for this deposition.