Ancient Mud Waves Rewrite Atlantic Ocean History
Recent research has uncovered gigantic mud waves nearly a kilometre beneath the Atlantic seabed west of Guinea-Bissau. These structures date back 117 million years and were sculpted by dense underwater avalanches. The findings reveal that early Atlantic waters carved through the Earth’s crust much earlier than previously thought. This discovery changes our understanding of the Atlantic Ocean’s formation and offers new vital information about Cretaceous climate shifts and tectonic movements.
Discovery of 117-Million-Year-Old Mud Waves
Using advanced seismic imaging and archived drilling data, scientists identified massive mud waves buried deep beneath the Atlantic seafloor. These waves stretch over a kilometre in length and rise hundreds of metres high. They were formed when dense, salty water from the young North Atlantic spilled into southern basins. This created powerful underwater currents that shaped the seafloor. The evidence suggests the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway opened earlier than earlier models predicted.
Implications for Atlantic Ocean Formation
The early opening of the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway indicates the Atlantic became a fully connected ocean sooner. This challenges previous geological timelines. The connection between northern and southern basins altered ocean circulation patterns. It also influenced the movement of heat and nutrients globally. Understanding this transition helps reconstruct Earth’s plate tectonic and oceanographic history more accurately.
Impact on Climate and Sediment Patterns
The mixing of saline North Atlantic waters with dense, carbon-rich deep waters triggered large underwater mud avalanches. These avalanches reshaped the ocean floor and disturbed ancient carbon-heavy sediments. This disruption likely released greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Such emissions contributed to the elevated global temperatures of the mid-Cretaceous period, known as a greenhouse world. This warming affected ocean chemistry, circulation, and marine life evolution for millions of years.
Significance for Paleoceanography and Climate Modelling
This discovery sharpens models of ancient ocean behaviour and climate feedback loops. It clarifies how early ocean gateways controlled heat movement and carbon sequestration in marine sediments. The revised timeline offers insight into long-term climate trends, including warming and cooling phases. Studying these deep-time processes improves understanding of the link between ocean circulation and Earth’s climate system. It also provides a framework for predicting the impact of current oceanic changes on future climate.
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