This project studies the relation between the amount of sediment deposited in the Nile Submarine Cone (NSC) and the influence exerted by external controls such as climate change. A detailed calculation of sediment volumes was performed as well as a detailed estimation between intervals in order to assess sedimentation rates and dry mass per Ma for the NSC from the Late Oligocene to Recent. In contrast to previous studies, this project presents for the first time detailed calculations for ten intervals from Late Oligocene to Re- cent, including calculations for Pre-Messinian deposits since they also play an important role in the evolution of the NSC and in the history of erosion and deposition processes in the Nile province. The results of this project evidenced a connection between climate change and the amount of sediment carried by rivers as well as its final fate. Sedimenta- tion rate values obtained for each interval showed an increase in sediment supply during the Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene, coincident with the i) final uplift of the Ethiopian and Somalian plateaus, ii) the drop in temperatures that took in the northern hemisphere as a consequence of the growth of the ice sheets, and iii) the increase in rainfall in the Ethiopian Highlands as a consequence of the African and Indian Monsoon that produced sapropel deposits and eroded sediments in north-eastern Africa. Pre-Messinian intervals showed low sedimentation rates values compared to Post-Messinian associated probably with an elevated evapo-transpiration cycle reducing the rainfall in the Ethiopian Highlands, des- pite the humid conditions that were present during certain ages (e.g. Zeit Wet Phase Late Miocene).
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:575393 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Palacios, Zonia H. |
| Publisher | University of Aberdeen |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://digitool.abdn.ac.uk:80/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=195900 |
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