SANIMED
PID2021-125489OB-I00
Sediment gravity flows and ANthropogenic Impacts in a MEDiterranean deltaic-and-canyon environment: Causal relationships and consequences
The SANIMED project focuses on two primary scientific objectives. The first objective is to investigate the genetic mechanisms and significance of gravity flows in deltaic and submarine canyon environments. This involves understanding dominant flow characteristics, their temporal variability, mapping erosional features, and confirming the presence of submarine groundwater discharges in the Guadalfeo River delta and submarine canyon heads. The second objective aims to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on the continental margin and their relationship with submarine gravity flows. This includes analysing the spatial and temporal variability of marine litter, characterizing litter composition and distribution, studying the effects of river damming, and identifying the influence of bottom trawling on submarine geomorphology, sedimentation rates, and benthic ecosystems. The study area, located off the coast of the province of Granada, exhibits a lateral morpho-sedimentary gradient, ranging from a wide platform with minimal sedimentary input and gentle slope to the west, to a narrow platform heavily affected by submarine canyons to the east.
The SANIMED project aims to decipher the genetic mechanisms and importance of gravity flows in deltaic and submarine canyon environments, and to determine the influence of different anthropogenic actions on the continental margin and their connections with records of submarine gravity flows.
RESULTS
Cerrillo-Escoriza, J., Lobo, F.J., Puga-Bernabéu, Á., Bárcenas, P., Mendes, I., et al., 2024. Variable downcanyon morphology controlling 1 the recent activity of shelf-incised submarine canyons (Alboran Sea, western Mediterranean). Geomorphology, 453: 109
... ,Mendes, I., and Pérez-Asensio, J.N. (2023). Origin and driving mechanisms of marine litter in the shelf-incised Motril, Carchuna and Calahonda canyons (northern Alboran Sea). Frontiers in Marine Science, 10: 1098927
DISSEMINATION
Participation of researcher Isabel Mendes in the "SANIMED 24" Campaign
CIMA TEAM
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS // PARTNERS
Instituição proponente Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT/CSIC Granada): F.J. Lobo (PI), J. Cerrillo
Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO/CSIC): P. Bárcenas, O. Sánchez Guillamón
Universidade de Granada: A. Puga, J.N. Pérez Asensio, C. Duque, A. López-Quirós
Universidade de Almeria: F. Sola Universidade de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: M.J. Sánchez García
Univerisidade de Cádiz: M. Luján, R. Quintana
Universidade de Malta: A. Micallef
Universidade de Ghent: L. Verweirder
Instituto de Ciencias del Mar (ICM/CSIC): R. Durán, C. Cabrera
Fundación Museo del Mar de Ceuta (CETMAR): A. Rosales