Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T20:51:03.107Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Late Pleistocene and Holocene depositional systems and the palaeogeography of the Dogger Bank, North Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Simon Fitch ,
Ken Thomson  and
Vince Gaffney
Simon Fitch
Affiliation:
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Ken Thomson*
Affiliation:
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
Vince Gaffney
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, University of Birmingham Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail addresses:[email protected](S. Fitch), [email protected] (K. Thomson) , [email protected] (V. Gaffney).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

3D seismic data from the Dogger Bank, North Sea, allow the mapping of Late Pleistocene and Holocene depositional systems in unprecedented detail. The data demonstrate that glacial processes resulted in the development of incised tunnel valley systems during the Weichselian and that these were subsequently modified by fluvial processes in a pro-glacial setting. Subsequently, the Dogger Bank formed an emergent plain during the Holocene with a complex meandering river system, associated tributary or distributary channels and lakes, dominating the region. Prior to the sea level rising sufficiently to submerge the Dogger Bank around 7500 yr ago, the meandering river system was replaced by a dendritic channel network of potential fluvial, estuarine or intertidal origin. As the Holocene depositional features bear no systematic relationship to the bathymetry this study demonstrates that previously published bathymetry-based models for the Holocene palaeogeographic development of the North Sea require modification.

Keywords

PleistoceneHolocenePalaeogeography
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 64 , Issue 2 , September 2005 , pp. 185 - 196
Copyright
Copyright © University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bahorich, M. Farmer, S. (1995). 3-D seismic discontinuity for faults and startigraphic features: the coherence cube. The Leading Edge 14, 1053–1058. Google Scholar
Bailey, G. (2004). The wider significance of submerged archaeological sites and their relevance to world prehistory. Fleming, N.C. Submarine Prehistoric Archaeology of the North Sea: Research Priorities and Collaboration with Industry CBA Research Report vol. 141, 3–10. Google Scholar
Bateman, M.D. Buckland, P.C. Carpenter, R. Davies, S. Frederick, C.D. Gearey, B. Murton, J.B. Whitehouse, N.J. (2001). Cove farm quarry, westwoodside. Bateman, M.D. Buckland, P.C. Frederick, C.D. Whitehouse, N.J. The Quaternary of East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. Quaternary Research Association Field Guide 141–160. Google Scholar
Bednarick, R.G. (2003). Seafaring in the Pleistocene. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 13, 41–66. Google Scholar
Behre, K.E. B., Menke (1969). Pollenanallyische Untersuchungen an einem Bohrkern der südlichen Doggerbank.Beiträge zur Meereskunde 24/25.pp. 123–129. Deutsche Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin.Google Scholar
Cameron, T.D.J. Crosby, A. Balson, P.S. Jeffery, D.H. Lott, G.K. Bulat, J. Harrison, D.J. (1992). United Kingdom Offshore Regional Report: The Geology of the Southern North Sea. HMSO for the British Geological Survey, 152 Google Scholar
Carling, P.A. (1981). Sediment transport by tidal currents and waves: observations from a sandy intertidal zone (Burry Inlet, South Wales). Nio, S.D. Holocene Marine Sedimentation in the North Sea Basin. International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication vol. 5, 65–80. Google Scholar
Coles, B.J. (1998). Doggerland: a speculative survey. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 64, 45–81. Google Scholar
Dalrymple, R.W. Zaitlan, B.A. Boyd, R. (1992). Estuarine facies models: conceptual basics and stratigraphic implications. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 62, 1030–1046. Google Scholar
Eisma, D. Jansen, F. Van Weering, T.C.E. (1979). Sea-floor morphology and recent sediment movement in the North Sea. Oele, E. Schuttenhelm, R.T.E. Wiggers, A.J. The Quaternary History of the North Sea Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis: Symposium Universitatis Upsaliensis Annum Quingentesimum Celebrantis vol. 2, 217–231. Google Scholar
Ehlers, J. Gibbard, P. (1991). Anglian glacial deposits in Britain and the adjoining offshore regions. Ehlers, J. Gibbard, P.L. Rose, J. Glacial Deposits in Great Britain and Northern Ireland Balkema, Rotterdam. 17–24. Google Scholar
Fairbanks, R.G. (1989). A 17000-year glacio-eustatic sea level record: influence of glacial melting rates on the younger Dyras event and deep-ocean circulation. Nature 342, 637–642. Google Scholar
Flemming, N.C. (2002). The Scope of Strategic Environmental Assessment of North Sea Areas SEA3 and SEA2 in Regard to Prehistoric Archaeological Remains. Department of Trade and Industry, (Report TR_014)Google Scholar
Godwin, N. (1941). Pollen-analysis and quaternary geology. Proceedings of the Geologists Association 52, 328–361. Google Scholar
Hamblin, R.J.O. Crosby, A. Balson, P.S. Jones, S.M. Chadwick, R.A. Penn, I.E. Arthur, M.J. (1992). United Kingdom Offshore Regional Report: The Geology of the English Channel. HMSO for the British Geological Survey, Google Scholar
Haugwitz, W. Wong, H.K. (1988). The Dogger Bank: seismic stratigraphy and Holocene sedimentation. Biogeochemistry and Distribution of Suspended Matter in the North Sea and Implications for Fisheries Biology Mitteilungen Geologische-Palaontologische Inst., University of Hamburg. 381–407. Google Scholar
Holmes, R. (1977). The quaternary geology of the UK sector of the North Sea between 56N and 58N. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences 77/14, 50–51. Google Scholar
Houghton, J.T. Filho, L.G.M. Griggs, D.J. Maskell, K. (1997). An introduction to simple climate models used in the IPCC second assessment report. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Google Scholar
Housley, R.A. (1991). AMS dates from the Late Glacial and early Postglacial in the north-west Europe: a review. Barton, N. Roberts, A.J. Roe, D.A. The Late Glacial in North-West Europe Research Report-Council for British Archaeology vol. 77, Google Scholar
Jablonski, N.G. (2000). The First Americans: The Pleistocene Colonisation of the New World. Google Scholar
Jelgersma, S. (1979). Sea-level changes in the North Sea basin. Oele, E. Schuttenhelm, R.T.E. Wiggers, A.J. The Quaternary History of the North Sea Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis: Symposium Universitatis Upsaliensis Annum Quingentesimum Celebrantis vol. 2, 233–248. Google Scholar
Kidd, G.D. (1999). Fundamentals of 3D seismic volume visualization. The Leading Edge 18, 702–709. Google Scholar
Lambeck, K. (1995). Predicted shoreline from rebound models. Journal of the Geological Society 152, 437–448. Google Scholar
Laraminie, F.G. (1989a). Silverwell Sheet (54N 02E): Seabed Sediments and Holocene Geology. HMSO, London. Google Scholar
Laraminie, F.G. (1989b). Silverwell Sheet (54N 02E): Quaternary Geology. HMSO, London. Google Scholar
Lawley, R. Booth, S. (2004). Skimming the surface. Geoscientist 14, 4–6. Google Scholar
Lonergan, L. Maidment, S. Collier, J. Stoker, M.S. Elders, C. (2003). Quantifying the extent of quaternary ice sheets in the North Sea–Using 3D seismic data. Geophysical Research Abstracts 5 Google Scholar
Long, D. Stoker, M.S. (1986). Channels in the North Sea: the nature of a hazard. Advances in Underwater Technology, Ocean Science and Offshore Engineering-VOL 6: Oceanology Proceedings of the Oceanology International 339–351. Google Scholar
Louwe Kooijmans, L.P. (1970/71). Mesolithic bone and antler implements from the North Sea and from the Netherlands. Berichten van de Rijksdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek 20/21, 27–73. Google Scholar
Marsset, B. Missiaen, T. De Roeck, Y.H. Noble, M. Versteeg, W. Henriet, J.P. (1998). Very high resolution 3D marine seismic data processing for geotechnical applications. Geophysical Prospecting 46, 105–120. Google Scholar
Muller, C. Milkereit, B. Bohlen, T. Theilen, F. (2002). Towards high-resolution 3D marine seismic surveying using Boomer Sources. Geophysical Prospecting 50, 517–526. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oele, E. (1969). The quaternary geology of the Dutch part of the North Sea, north of the Frisian Isles. Geologie en Mijnbouw 48, 467–480. Google Scholar
Oele, E. (1971). Late quaternary geology of the North Sea south east of the Dogger Bank. Report of the Institute of Geological Sciences 70/15, 25–34. Google Scholar
Pérez-Arlucea, M. Smith, N.D. (1999). Depositional patterns following the 1870s avulsion of the Saskatchewan River Cumberland Marshes, Saskatchewan, Canada. Journal of Sedimentary Research 69, 62–73. Google Scholar
Praeg, D. (1996). Morphology, stratigraphy and genesis of buried Elsterian tunnel-valleys in the Southern North Sea Basin.PhD dissertation,University of Edinburgh, .Google Scholar
Praeg, D. (1997). Buried fluvial channels: 3D-seismic geomorphology. Davies, T.A. Bell, T. Cooper, A.K. Josenhans, H. Polyak, L. Solheim, A. Stoker, M.S. Stravers, J.A. Glaciated Continental Margins: An Atlas of Acoustic Images Chapman and Hall, London. 162–163. Google Scholar
Pulliam, J. Austin, J.A. Luhurbudi, E.C. Saustrup, S. Stoffa, P.L. (1996). An ultrahigh resolution 3D survey of the shallow subsurface on the continental shelf of New Jersey. The Leading Edge 15, 839–845. Google Scholar
Rust, B.R. Romanelli, R. (1975). Late Quaternary subaqueous outwash deposits near Ottawa Canada. Jopling, A.V. McDonald, B.C. Glaciofluvial and Glaciolacustrine Sedimentation Special Publication-Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication 23, 177–192. Google Scholar
Salomonsen, I. Jensen, K.A. (1994). Quaternary erosional surfaces in the Danish North Sea. Boreas 23, 244–253. Google Scholar
Strecker, U. Uden, R. (2002). Data mining of 3D poststack seismic attribute volumes using Kohonen self-organizing maps. The Leading Edge 21, 1032–1037. Google Scholar
Stride, A.H. (1959). On the origin of the Dogger Bank in the North Sea. Geological Magazine 96, 33–44. Google Scholar
Tömqvist, T.E. (1993). Holocene alteration of meandering and anastomosing fluvial systems in the Rhine-Meuse delta (Central Netherlands) controlled by sea-level rise and subsoil erodibility. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 63, 683–693. Google Scholar
Tömqvist, T.E. van ree, M.H.M. Faessen, E.L.J.H. (1993). Longitudinal facies architectural changes of a Middle Holocene anastomosing distributary system (Rhine-Meuse delta, central Netherlands). Sedimentary Geology 85, 203–219. CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Veenstra, H.J. (1965). Geology of the Dogger Bank area, North Sea. Marine Geology 3, 245–262. Google Scholar
Velegrakis, A.F. Dix, J.K. Collins, M.B. (1999). Late Quaternary evolution of the upper reaches of the Solent River, Southern England, based upon marine geophysical evidence. Journal of the Geological Society (London) 156, 73–87. Google Scholar
Whitehead, H. Goodchild, M.H. (1909). Some notes on “moorlog”, a peaty deposit from the Dogger Bank in the North Sea, with a report on the plant remains by C. Reid and E.M Reid. Essex Naturalist 16, 51–60. Google Scholar
Woodland, A.W. (1970). The buried tunnel valleys of East Anglia. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society 37, 521–578. Google Scholar