Professor of Marine Geology and Geophysics
Statement of Intent
The ESF supported Ocean Margins Network, in consultation with the scientific and industrial community, plans to develop a European-led programme to study passive continental margins. The new programme, which will involve the sharing of large-scale facilities, the acquisition of new data and, the development of quantitative models, will be a major challenge. The new ESF initiative, EUROCORES, provides a mechanism by which a new programme in Ocean Margins might be supported in the future.
Scientific background and outline
Ocean margins are features on a global scale that mark the transition between continents and oceans. They develop as the consequence of the break-up of continents and the formation of new ocean basins, are the sites of some of the world’s largest accumulations of sediments and, are among the best indicators that we have of climatic, sediment flux and, sea-level changes in the past. Because of their relief, ocean margins have potentially unstable slopes and some margins are seismically active. Since a majority of the world's population lives within a short distance of the coastal zone, ocean margins are prone to major natural hazards.
The European scientific community has already identified the deep structure and rifting processes, the sedimentary processes and products, and fluid flow, seeps and deep-water biota at passive margins as high priority targets that need to be addressed in the immediate future. Furthermore, the hydrocarbons industry regards the slope and rise of passive margins as one of the few remaining frontiers for the production of oil and gas.
At a recent ESF sponsored workshop in Sitges (Spain), the European scientific community developed a science plan for a new programme in ocean margins. The new programme, EUROMARGINS, will address fundamental questions in passive margin research, including rifting processes; the structure, rheology and tectonic and magmatic styles; slope instability and turbidite systems; the role of factors such as tectonic setting, climate, sea-level and magmatism in controlling stratigraphic sequences; and the societal importance of continental slopes and rises, especially as they relate to hydrocarbon exploration and production, the economic potential of gas hydrates, deep-sea biota and, the occurrence of natural hazards.
EUROMARGINS is a multi-national, inter-disciplinary programme which pose new challenges for the European scientific community. Phase I of the programme will focus on two "target" areas - one on the north-west European margin and one in the Western Mediterranean - where generic problems related to the interplay between magmatism and extension and compression can be addressed and where high-quality geological and geophysical data already exist. The centrepiece of Phase I will be the first 3-D seismic tomography and imaging of the crust and upper mantle in a passive margin setting. The seismic studies will be accompanied by sonar studies of the mechanics and kinematics of slope instabilities and the dynamics and variability of turbidite systems and by chemical, biological and physical studies of fluid flow, gas hydrates and deep-water seeps and biota. Phase II will extend the work in the target areas to conjugate margins pairs in the North Atlantic (e.g. Labrador, Greenland and W.Iberia), the young margins of the Gulf of Aden and, the highly segmented margins of the South Atlantic.
European added value
The nations of Europe share one of the longest ocean margin systems in the world, yet no one country has access to all the large-scale facilities (e.g. ships, submersibles, deep-tow devices, seismic and sonar) that are now needed to study these features. Furthermore, there is a large skill-base of scientists in Europe in ocean margin research, yet collaborative research to date has been limited to one or two countries and to partners in the USA. A new programme that involves the sharing of facilities, the training of a new generation of young marine geoscientists and, engages the skill-base within Europe is an exciting prospect which has far-reaching implications, not only for ocean margins scientific research but, also for important societal issues.
Participating countries
There is a wide interest within Europe in research in ocean margins. Scientists from the following countries have been particularly active in research and the setting up of an ESF sponsored Exploratory Workshop and Network in ocean margins:
Belguim
Denmark
France
Germany
Norway
Portugal
Spain
UK
In addition, it emerged from a recent ESF supported workshop in Sitges that scientists from The Netherlands, Greece, Italy and Ireland also have a strong interest in ocean margins. Plans are therefore in place to invite scientists from The Netherlands and Italy to join the Network co-ordination committee. Scientists from Ireland have expressed an interest in collaborating with a new programme in EUROMARGINS and it is anticipated that other countries such as Greece may do so in the future.
Strength of participating countries
There is already within Europe a large and active skill base in ocean margin research. European scientists have been at the forefront of research in ocean margins, particularly the deep structure and rifting processes at volcanic and non-volcanic passive margins. Unlike the situation in the US, European scientists have been active in engaging industry in their activities. Since industry is in the process of moving much of its exploration activity to deep-water ocean margins, there exists new opportunities in the future that will be of benefit to both the European scientific and industrial community.
While European scientists have been directly involved in both the complexities of acquiring seismic, sonar and sampling data at sea and in the development of new predictive analytical and numerical models, the experience varies greatly between countries. Some countries have access to "state of the art" seismic data source, recording and processing facilities. Others do not. Some have access to "state of the art" submersibles, sonar imaging and deep-towed devices. Others do not. Therefore, no one country is able to mount the kinds of experiments that will need to be carried out in the future if we are to better understand the ocean margin system and the linkages between rifting, sedimentary and fluid flow processes.