Research group

Continental Margins Group

Continental Margins Group

We study the geology and geophysics of continental margins and basins

Our main interest is the Geomarine exploration and understanding of the structure, composition and processes of continental margins and deep oceans.

1) DEVELOPMENT OF NEW MODELS FOR DEEP-WATER SEDIMENTARY SYSTEMS. Geomorphology, depositional architecture, tectonic structures, and seismic and sedimentologic characteristics of turbidite fans, bottom current deposits, glaciomarine systems, submarine canyons, and seamounts.

2) HAZARDOUS MARINE PROCESSES. Mobile seafloor, seafloor erosion, gas and submarine volcanic eruptions; seismic faults and seafloor stability and their tsunamigenic potential.

3) PALAEOGEOGRAPHIC, PALAEOCEANOGRAPHIC AND PALAEOCLIMATIC RECONSTRUCTIONS. Links between natural climatic, oceanographic and geographic changes on geological-time frequencies (thousands of years to millennial scale).

4) UNIQUE AND CONVULSIVE SEDIMENTOLOGICAL EVENTS. The Messinian Salinity Crisis and the related convulsive Atlantic flooding, both affecting the entire Mediterranean Basin.

5) MARINE RESOURCES. Modern analogs of submarine fans and contourites for hydrocarbon prospecting. Searching of shelf sandy deposits for beach nourishment.

STAFF
4
PUBLICATIONS*
18
FUNDING*
151
k€
* Data from the last two years

Group members

Head of group (PI)

Senior Researcher

Technician

Most relevant information

Highlights

1. Managing of the most important database of sediment cores and seismic profiles from the S Mediterranean Sea, at CSIC. Collections include more than 1000 sediment samples and tens of thousands of km in different seismic resolution acquired along more than 30 years and 50 in national and international geomarine cruises.

2. Consultant for the Information and Analysis Cell for Risks and Threats of submarine volcanism Hazards (CIARA). Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Marítima (CNSM). David Casas.

3. Royal Academy of Sciences Exact, Physic ad Natural, since 2005. Belén Alonso. LINK

4. The most downloaded paper in Terra Nova for 2019. Estrada, F. et al., Tectonic indentation in the central Alboran Sea (westernmost Mediterranean). Terra Nova 30(1): 24-33 (2018). LINK

5. Participation in the RTVE program: Orbita Laika. Gemma Ercilla was the guest of the night, in an interview about the fascinating seabed. 6th May, 2019. LINK

6. Planning and running the workshop “Workshop Alboran domain and Gibraltar Arc: geological research and natural hazards”. UDGr-CSIC. 16-18 October 2019. Gemma Ercilla.

Publications

Selected publications

View all publications
  • Estrada, Ferran; Galindo-Zaldívar, Jesús; Vázquez, J. T.; Ercilla, Gemma; D'Acremont, E.; Alonso, Belén; Gorini, Christian;
    2018

    Tectonic indentation in the central Alboran Sea (westernmost Mediterranean)

    Terra Nova 30(1): 24-33 (2018)
    https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12304
  • Casas, David; Pimentel, A.; Pacheco, José; Martorelli, Eleonora; Sposato, A.; Ercilla, Gemma; Alonso, Belén; Chiocci, Francesco L.;
    2018

    Serreta 1998-2001 submarine volcanic eruption, offshore Terceira (Azores): Characterization of the vent and inferences about the eruptive dynamics

    Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 356: 127-140 (2018)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2018.02.017
  • Galindo-Zaldívar, Jesús; Ercilla, Gemma; Estrada, Ferran; Sanz de Galdeano, Carlos; Alonso, Belén; Gil, Alejandro J.;
    2018

    Imaging the Growth of Recent Faults: The Case of 2016-2017 Seismic Sequence Sea Bottom Deformation in the Alboran Sea (Western Mediterranean)

    Tectonics 37: 2513-2530 (2018)
    https://doi.org/10.1029/2017TC004941
  • Ercilla, Gemma; Juan, Carmen; Alonso, Belén; Estrada, Ferran; Valencia, Javier;
    2019

    Influence of alongslope processes on modern turbidite systems and canyons in the Alboran Sea (southwestern Mediterranean)

    Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 144: 1-16 (2019)
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2018.12.002
Projects
  • FACTORES DE RIESGO GEOLOGICO ASOCIADO A CABECERAS DE CAÑONES SUBMARINOS EN LOS MARGENES CONTINENTALES MEDITERRANEOS DEL SUR DE IBERIA
  • Ingestion and safe-keeping of marine data

Research lines

Impact of climate change on the coast and marine basins

Awareness of marine geological hazards